7. Ardie Savea – Kobelco Kobe Steelers
Kobelco Kobe Steelers have certainly bolstered their forward pack for the upcoming season, with the signing of 2023 World Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea along with Brodie Retallick. Despite not coming away from France with the Web Ellis trophy, Savea’s talents were recognised in the 2023 World Rugby Awards, as he was bestowed the prestigious accolade. Savea saw off the shortlisted Bundee Aki, Antoine Dupont and Eben Etzebeth to take the trophy home from Paris.
Also, Savea stars at number eight in World Rugby’s Dream Team of the Year, after a stunning 12 months for the All Blacks and Hurricanes. The back-row was amongst New Zealand’s top performers in the Rugby World Cup, and frequently took over the captaincy role for his country. A late back injury to Sam Cane saw the All Blacks captain miss the opening two rounds of pool stage action, and the flanker was also sent off after just 27 minutes in the Final, prompting Savea to again take on the All Blacks’ armband.
Now Savea heads to Japan, and admitted openly that the financial security that comes with the move was a big incentive for the 30-year-old. Ardie follows his brother Julian’s path with a move outside of New Zealand, after 131 caps throughout a decade at the Hurricanes. Ardie won the Super Rugby title in 2016, and also featured in the all-star North Island side, in the 2020 end of season North vs South Island fixture. The 78 capped All Black packs his bags for Kobe, as he, like so many other Southern Hemisphere stars, think about setting up their families for life after rugby.
8. Shannon Frizzell – Toshiba Brave Lupus
The seventh and final confirmed move from New Zealand’s 2023 RWC squad to Japan (as of time of writing), Shannon Frizzell will link back up with Richie Mo’unga at Toshiba Brave Lupus. Three of Japan’s top clubs have all now signed a duo of top All Blacks talents, including Toyota Verblitz (Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett), and Kobelco Steelers (Brodie Retallick and Ardie Savea). Frizzell leaves New Zealand with 33 All Blacks caps, after nailing his name to the number six jersey throughout the Rugby World Cup.
Frizzell brings a talented versatility to Brave Lupus, as he can star equally well across the back-row and as a lock. The 29-year-old was predominantly used as a blindside flanker during Ian Foster’s time in charge of the All Blacks, and fought off the competition from Ethan Blackadder, Luke Jacobsen and Akira Ioane. Frizzell has also run out for the Highlanders at both lock and back-row, and even starred at number eight for his Tasman provincial side. Frizzell really came into his own in France, having progressed into a starting line-up mainstay the previous year.
Frizzell recovered from a tedious hamstring injury, in time for New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup pool stage walkover wins against Italy and Uruguay. The ex-Highlander had his best performance in the semi-final victory over Argentina, as he scored two tries in the rampant win against Los Pumas. Frizzell had a moment to forget in his final All Blacks test for the forseable future, as he was sin-binned in the Rugby World Cup Final, for falling on Bongi Mbonambi’s out-stretched leg in a ruck.