Latest news with #Ardie
Otago Daily Times
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Test fever rises as fans show love for All Blacks
A Dunedin rugby fan is hanging out for an All Blacks win tonight, because "who doesn't love to beat the French?" Rugby fans were out in force at the Wall Street Mall yesterday, waiting in a long line to get a signature from All Blacks Ethan de Groot, Noah Hotham, George Bower, Patrick Tuipulotu and Billy Proctor. Roman, 6, and Ardie, 9, along with their mother Kiri Manuel, were chuffed to get posters and a stuffed bear signed. Roman and Ardie were most excited for a win, and "to see the All Blacks beat the French", Ms Manuel said. "Who doesn't love to beat the French?" Dunedin artist Koryu Aoshima draws a chalk mural of a rooster and a kiwi battling at the Dunedin Railway Station yesterday to celebrate tonight's All Blacks v France test at Forsyth Barr Stadium. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON At the Dunedin Railway Station, artist Koryu Aoshima was commissioned to do a chalk mural for people arriving by train from Mosgiel. He was drawing a kiwi and a rooster to represent the two teams playing.
Otago Daily Times
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Fans flock to meet All Black heroes
Highlanders and All Blacks prop Ethan de Groot signs a poster for a young fan who was among those queueing for autographs with team members in the Wall Street Mall yesterday morning. Dunedin All Black fans were out in force at the Wall St Mall this morning, waiting in a long line for the chance to get a signature from their heroes. Signing autographs ahead of tomorrow's test match between the All Blacks and France at Forsyth Barr Stadium were Ethan De Groot, Noah Hotham, Will Jordan, Christian Lio-Willie and Pasilio Tosi. In line early were Roman, 6, and Ardie, 9, Manuel with their mother Kiri Manuel, who were chuffed to get posters and a stuffed bear signed. The family would be attending the match tomorrow. Roman and Ardie were most excited for a win, and "to see the All Blacks beat the French", Ms Manuel said. "Who doesn't love to beat the French?"
NZ Herald
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Crusaders vs Chiefs: Cowbell ban adds spice to Super Rugby final
An explanation... The fact it's been ho-hum reminded me of when ex-Crusaders prop Joe Moody said the quiet part out loud in 2020 and admitted there was some genuine hatred between his side and the Chiefs. Maybe it was the lockdown talking, but it was the most honest a player has been and added some genuine spice to the fixture. Unfortunately, the art of tribalism has largely been lost in Super Rugby. All Blacks and Crusaders prop Joe Moody. Photo / Photosport A suggestion... Not winning a final can hang over you. Long after the initial disappointment dissipates, you can be tagged as not having what it takes to win the big games. The top two inches. Just ask Ian Foster, who admits in his new book that there was a lot made of the fact he never won a title with the Chiefs. If Clayton McMillan oversees a fourth final loss in five years tomorrow night, that tag could follow him long after he's left New Zealand - and back again if he returns to try for the All Blacks job down the track. It's a bit much to say McMillan's coaching future could be decided tonight but, should he win the decider, suddenly those three defeats become less important in the overarching narrative. A prediction... The final will be a coin flip, and the referee will probably decide it. There's a somewhat bizarre symmetry between this year and 2023, when these sides last met in the final. The Chiefs won twice that season and then ... couldn't get over the Crusaders in the final. If that happens, I can recommend to Chiefs fans a great documentary, the Four Falls of Buffalo (screening on Disney+), about the Buffalo Bills' four straight Super Bowl defeats in the 1990s. It won't necessarily be cathartic, but you may find solidarity. A question... Is it better to have Ardie once or never to have had Ardie at all? That's what Moana Pasifika fans must be asking themselves after having their recently acquired 'toy' loaned out to Kobe for another season, with the promise he'll come back in 2027. Just as Moana Pasifika began to get a foothold in Super Rugby, they must appoint a new captain and start somewhat from scratch again. Is there any other sport in the world where a player would trade a stronger competition for a lesser one for a few months? It's only rugby's skewed financials that allow such moves. And would it be better or worse for Super Rugby not to have Savea at all over the current contract period, rather than the 'is he or isn't he here' question with two sabbaticals? Do you gain more by having Savea for one year on, one year off than you do allowing him to head to Japan for four years – clearing any confusion – and still allowing him to be eligible for the All Blacks? Elliott Smith is a Rugby Commentator and Deputy Sports News Editor for Newstalk ZB. He is the host of the Rugby Direct podcast. For live commentary of this weekend's Super Rugby Pacific final between the Crusaders and the Chiefs, go to GOLD SPORT or iHeartRadio.
Irish Examiner
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
All Black Savea to skip Super Rugby in favour of Japan sabbatical in 2026
All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea will return to the Kobe Steelers club in Japan to take a sabbatical and skip Super Rugby with Moana Pasifika next year New Zealand Rugby (NZR) said on Tuesday. The former World Rugby Player of the Year, who spent the 2024 Japanese season with the Steelers, will be available for test duty until the end of the November internationals and return in time for the 2026 mid-year tests. The news comes as a blow to Moana fans after Savea inspired their team to several notable victories and were on the brink of the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs in his first season at the club this year. "It's hard to leave, even though it's only for one season, but I'll be supporting the team from afar and will stay involved behind the scenes," the 31-year-old said in a statement. "This year at Moana Pasifika was the happiest I've been in my career." The sabbatical system was introduced to enable players to benefit from lucrative deals offered by Northern Hemisphere clubs while still remaining contracted to NZR and therefore available for test rugby. "Sabbaticals are a key component of our contracting model and provide flexibility for our most senior All Blacks to spend some time in a different environment," NZR's Chris Lendrum said. "Ardie is committed to play his rugby in New Zealand through to the end of 2027 and we look forward to his ongoing contribution to our teams and competitions." Moana coach Tana Umaga said Savea, who was the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year this season, would be welcomed back with open arms in 2027. "Ardie obviously goes with our blessing," said the former All Blacks captain. "We will continue to build the momentum of our movement in 2026 and work hard to grow our game so that we will be even better when he gets back to us in 2027."
RTÉ News
17-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
New Zealand star Savea to spend year in Japan after November Tests
All Blacks star back row Ardie Savea will skip Super Rugby with Moana Pasifika next year and take a sabbatical in Japan at the Kobe Steelers club, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has announced. The former World Rugby Player of the Year, who spent the 2024 Japanese season with the Steelers, will be available for test duty until the end of the autumn internationals - including the clash with Ireland in Chicago on 1 November and return in time for the 2026 mid-year tests. The news will come as a blow to Moana fans after Savea inspired the team to several notable victories and the brink of the Super Rugby Pacific play-offs in his first season at the club this year. "It's hard to leave, even though it's only for one season, but I'll be supporting the team from afar and will stay involved behind the scenes," the 31-year-old said in a statement. "This year at Moana Pasifika was the happiest I've been in my career." The sabbatical system was introduced to enable players to benefit from lucrative deals offered by Northern Hemisphere clubs while still remaining contracted to NZR and therefore available for test rugby. Savea's international team-mate Rieko Ioane, a centre, will follow in the footsteps of Jordie Barrett by spending the second half of next season at Leinster. Barrett scored a try in his final game for the Irish province in last Saturday's URC final win over the Bulls. "Sabbaticals are a key component of our contracting model and provide flexibility for our most senior All Blacks to spend some time in a different environment," NZR's Chris Lendrum said. "(Ardie) is committed to play his rugby in New Zealand through to the end of 2027 and we look forward to his ongoing contribution to our teams and competitions." Moana coach Tana Umaga said Savea, who was the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year this season, would be welcomed back with open arms in 2027. "Ardie obviously goes with our blessing," said the former All Blacks captain. "We will continue to build the momentum of our movement in 2026 and work hard to grow our game so that we will be even better when he gets back to us in 2027."
