Ardie Savea opens up on fear of going blind after gruesome eye injury

Thursday, 23 July 2026 at 07:14

bySteven Smith

Ardie Savea has opened up in the past about his fear of going blind after revealing he has severely impaired vision in his left eye.

The All Blacks skipper suffered a gruesome injury while playing for Kobe Steelers in Japan earlier this year, requiring several stitches above his right eye after a collision during a League One match. Images shared by Savea showed heavy bruising and a deep cut around his eye, sparking concern among rugby fans.

For most players, it would have been just another rugby injury. For Savea, it was much more serious.

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"I might be potentially blind"

Ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Savea revealed he had been living with deteriorating vision in his left eye and feared any significant injury to his right eye could leave him blind.

"A couple of years ago I realised I had bad vision in my left eye. Everything's kind of blurry."

He added:

"Obviously if my right eye goes, I might be potentially blind."

The back-row star explained that becoming a father changed the way he viewed the risks of rugby.

"I've got my little girl and hopefully future kids and a bigger family, so I want to be able to see. I'm just thinking of the bigger picture and trying to protect my eyes."

The goggles that disappeared

Savea famously became the first player to wear World Rugby-approved protective goggles at a Rugby World Cup when New Zealand faced Canada in 2019.

The eyewear was designed to protect his remaining good eye rather than improve his vision.

However, he abandoned the goggles after just one appearance and has rarely worn them since. In later interviews, Savea explained he would be open to wearing them again if improved versions became available, having found the original design difficult to use in match conditions.

Thankfully, no lasting damage

The injury suffered in Japan looked horrific but fortunately did not damage Savea's eyesight.

Despite the stitches and bruising, the All Blacks captain returned to action after recovering and continues to be one of world rugby's standout performers.

Given the fears he shared in 2019, though, the sight of blood pouring from around his right eye served as a stark reminder of just how much more is at stake for one of rugby's greatest players.

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