Ardie: 'It's God's purpose' | Savea to lead Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby

Ardie Savea has been named captain for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.

Savea made the shock move to the Super Rugby minnows from the Hurricanes last July, after spending a stint playing in Japan. The loose forward has played 94 Tests for the All Blacks and first captained the test side in 2021.

The 31-year-old says he’s honoured to lead Moana Pasifika.

“It’s pretty special and I believe it’s God’s purpose for me to lead,” said Savea.

“When I signed with the team Tana (Umaga, head coach) spoke to me about it and I went away and thought about it. After spending some time talking to my wife and those close to me, I realised it was the right decision to say yes.

“First and foremost I’ve got to lead myself first and that’s through my performance on the field and how I operate at trainings, and off the field as well. I also want to serve the brothers, serve the team, serve the franchise and serve the people anyway I can.”

The team spent the last weekend at camp, bonding and building team chemistry before the Super Rugby season kicks off.

It’s given Savea the chance to connect with his new teammates.

“Some of the boys I’d never met before so this weekend in camp has been awesome to spend some time with the brothers,” he added.

“Being able to lean on the great leaders that are already here has been awesome.”

Umaga said that: “Ardie is a hard worker and incredible role model who pushes others to be better by setting a high standard for himself, both professionally and personally.

“That’s something that stands out for us as a good leader, bringing out the best in the team and uplifting others. He’s a natural leader who is going to have a massive impact on our team.”

Things, of course, need to change at Moana Pasifika, with the team having won just seven of 42 games in its first three seasons.

“There’s been a lot of onus on them to do some work before they get here,” Umaga said.

“Ninety percent of them have done that, but there’s still a few that probably are a little bit underdone. Those players have been having to work and earn the right to have the pleasure of training out on the field, and instead have been watching from upstairs on a bike.

“We need to work hard this year. We’ve got a lot of things we want to achieve – just like everybody else – but we know those things won’t come without hard work,” he said.

Moana Pasifika are preparing for Super Rugby 2025 at North Harbour Stadium, under a shared arrangement with A-League football club, Auckland FC.

Umaga said it’s been a pleasure watching them do their thing, even though their paths haven’t crossed too much.

“It’s like flatmates and we’re all on different shifts, but just having them around, and the success they’ve been having, it’s lifted the vibe around here.”