Tana Umaga reveals how ‘a tongue in cheek throwaway line’ convinced Ardie Savea to make surprise decision
All Blacks back-row Ardie Savea and Moana Pasifika head coach Tana Umaga.
Moana Pasifika head coach Tana Umaga has revealed how his club managed to add All Blacks star Ardie Savea to their squad ahead of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
Savea, who is World Rugby’s current Player of the Year, signed a three-year contract with Moana Pasifika in July through until 2027.
The announcement of the 30-year-old’s move to the Auckland-based Pacific Island franchise came as a shock to many as he spent his entire Super Rugby career at the Hurricanes.
Savea played for the Wellington-based outfit between 2013 and 2023 but was not in action for them during the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific competition as he activated a sabbatical clause in his contract with New Zealand Rugby to spend six months in Japan with Kobe Steelers after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
And Umaga revealed that it was during last year’s global showpiece in France that the wheels were set in motion for the talented back-row to join Moana Pasifika.
‘You always start with your wishlist’
Speaking on New Zealand radio station Life FM, Umaga was asked if Savea approached Moana Pasifika about joining them or whether the club put their feelers out to the player and replied: “Well, it was a bit of both, really. You have your wishlist and you always start with your wishlist.
“And whether it’s achievable or not, you just think, oh, well, who are the players that we think that can help promote our movement and Ardie was in there, definitely.
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“And then I was at the World Cup and I went in with the All Blacks, just spent an evening with them. They have this thing called Club Night, which is when they have a lot of ex-players come in and just spend the evening with them.
“Ardie and I were talking and it just kind of came out then. And it was like a tongue-in-cheek kind of throwaway line. And we were talking about Moana.
“I said, man, you’re doing well. Sounds like it’s going to go good. And, you know, shucks.
“We talk about giving back and then he kind of, as they do, as I’m walking away, he said: ‘Oh, don’t forget about me, you know, for Moana.’
“I just looked back at him and he kind of smiled and then walked away. So you don’t know. Are you serious?”
Julian Savea’s presence at Moana Pasifika a key factor
Savea eventually agreed terms on a Moana Pasifika deal and Umaga admitted that the presence of the player’s brother – former All Blacks wing Julian – at the club played a role in his decision to join them.
“Oh, I think so,” he said regarding the older Savea’s presence at the club influencing his sibling’s decision to join Moana.
“To be honest, I think that got him across the line.”
