More All Blacks show ‘significant interest’ in following Ardie Savea to Moana Pasifika

All Blacks star Ardie Savea and Moana Pasifika players celebrate a try.
More All Blacks could reportedly follow the example set by Ardie Savea by leaving their current Super Rugby Pacific teams to join Moana Pasifika when renegotiating their contracts with New Zealand Rugby (NZR).
According to a report in the New Zealand Herald, Savea’s unique case of being a current All Blacks player who plies his trad at Super Rugby Pacific level for Moana Pasifika, could change as other New Zealand internationals who are also keen to play their club rugby for the Tana Umaga-coached outfit.
Savea, who was named World Rugby’s Player of the Year in 2023, signed a three-year deal with Moana Pasifika?until 2027. He is a high-profile player who has already made 94 Test appearances for the All Blacks and was announced as Moana’s new captain on Monday.
Savea is set to become the first current All Black to represent Moana after he left his Super Rugby Pacific franchise the Hurricanes, explaining that he wants to give back to his parents’ Samoan heritage.
Moana’s primary objective is?to produce players for Tonga and Manu Samoa
Although Moana are based in Auckland, the club’s primary objective is to produce players who represent Tonga and Manu Samoa, instead of the All Blacks.
However, NZR’s current rules give Moana permission to have up to three of the governing body’s contracted players playing for them.
Those agreements specifically refer to players who are contracted to one of the five New Zealand Super Rugby Pacific teams – the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders – rather than a player who is just contracted to a provincial union at National Provincial Championship (NPC) level.
According to the New Zealand Herald, at least two current All Blacks have told their representatives that they would also like to join Moana when the time comes to sign a new NZR contract.
The reasons behind those desired moves range from players also wanting to represent their heritage, the attraction of living in Auckland or playing alongside Savea at club level as well as in the international arena.
Interim Moana Pasifika chief executive Debbie Sorensen revealed that there was “significant interest” from some All Blacks about joining the club for the 2026 campaign and potentially beyond.
But, with NZR preferring to see players playing for one of its five franchises, Moana does understand the complexities of trying to make such signings.
‘The All Blacks are a New Zealand Rugby product’
“There will always be tension around those negotiations,” Sorensen told the New Zealand Herald. “The All Blacks are a New Zealand Rugby product, and so there’s negotiations around that.
“But that’s not a constraint to us.”
NZR have the right to want players to remain contracted to one of its own franchises. Players, especially All Blacks, are NZR’s biggest asset at a time when rugby union is trying to consolidate its position as New Zealand’s premier sports code.
But, with Savea’s example being the first and only one of its kind, NZR said it is prepared to be flexible and consider players’ needs, should they want to explore moving clubs.
However, that exploration will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, whereby players may be rewarded for years of long service, similar to the way in which the NZR allows sabbatical clauses to certain players within their contracts.
“New Zealand Rugby’s priority is developing players who are eligible to represent our teams in black,” NZR told the Herald in a statement.
“However, the Collective Employment Agreement (CEA) also allows for NZR to second up to three contracted players per year to Moana Pasifika, which recognises that there may be specific circumstances where a player playing for Moana Pasifika remains eligible for selection for New Zealand national teams.
“This provision acknowledges the balance between players’ individual circumstances, the interests of New Zealand national teams and our role in assisting the development of rugby in the Pacific region while ensuring the success of the Super Rugby Pacific competition.”