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Home / Sport / Rugby / All Blacks

Rugby: All Blacks star Ardie Savea reveals why he is considering a move to rugby league

NZ Herald
24 Feb, 2020 10:05 PM3 mins to read

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Roger Tuivasa-Sheck on Ardie Savea's potential switch to rugby league 'hopefully he comes here'

The All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea has revealed the driving force that could see him switch to rugby league.

The 44-test Hurricanes star made a shock announcement during an interview with former Warrior Isaac John on the Ice Project podcast that he wanted to play in the NRL.

Savea doubled down on the comments in a second interview with Staf Chat podcast with the TAB's Mark Stafford.

The All Black said the chance to represent Samoa was a big reason why he was looking at a change in code

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"This might blow-up. I thought of rugby league. I thought of giving that a crack or trying to give it a crack. But a massive one for me that I would love to do is play for Samoa," he said on the podcast.

"A big part of why I wanted to go to league was because I could play for Samoa because of the rules. So that's been a thing that's ponded my mind.

"[I've] Been following hard out on the World Rugby rules and that stuff. For me it's how proud the Samoan people are and I know how much Samoans give to rugby internationally…my old man's face if he knew that I was going to play [for Samoa]."

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Savea, who was one of the standout All Blacks during last year's Rugby World Cup in Japan, is still recovering from a serious knee injury sustained in the semifinal defeat to England.

Asked by John if he was considering a move to the NRL, Savea said he was "low-key thinking about it for next year".

"100 per cent I want to play rugby league, I think they do a lot more in terms of off the field stuff... and also, just a new challenge. I want to test myself," Savea said.

"Learning a whole new game and seeing if I can dominate or play the way I play in union, if I can do that in league, excites me. Seeing guys like Sonny [Bill Williams, former All Blacks teammate] do it and how that's benefited him that kind of pondered my mind."

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Williams has just completed a return to league with the Toronto Wolfpack, after 10 years playing union, in a deal reportedly worth $10 million.

Savea wouldn't be joining the Warriors, though.

"Strategically I would go to a team that's good...that's dominating, like the [Melbourne] Storm or the [Sydney] Roosters," Savea said.

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