After a long saga of speculation throughout the Greatest Rivalry series in South Africa, Ardie Savea's next steps look to have finally been revealed.
One of the leading clubs to land his signature have reportedly put pen to paper with the All Blacks captain, with reports in the New Zealand Herald stating that Savea has agreed a move to the Blues.
Whilst Savea's destination was confirmed to be a Super Rugby Pacific club, which one of the five franchises was set to be officially unveiled on Friday.
The reports from the land of the All Blacks, state that Savea has agreed a one-year deal with the Auckland side for the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season.
The 32-year-old became the biggest free agent in world rugby in the Summer, following the collapse of his Super Rugby club Moana Pasifika.
Savea was expected to head back to Tana Umaga's side, following his title-winning stint with the Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan - under his now All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie.
Savea began his Super Rugby career with the Hurricanes and spent his entire New Zealand-based career in Wellington before moving to Moana Pasifika.
However, the decision behind Savea signing with the Blues, is helped in part with how Pasifika were also based in Auckland.
The Blues have reportedly been negotiating with Savea since July, with the New Zealand Rugby component of his contract contributing to the delay in formally confirming the deal.
RUCK'S 5 QUICK FACTS: ARDIE SAVEA
- He was born in Lower Hutt, in the Wellington region, on 14 October 1993.
- His older brother Julian was also an All Black, making the Saveas one of the few sibling combinations to represent New Zealand at Test level.
- He initially played rugby league as a youngster before focusing fully on rugby union.
- Savea's first-class breakthrough came unusually young — he made his Hurricanes debut as an 18-year-old in 2012.
- He has strong Pacific Island heritage: Savea's family is of Samoan descent, and his father, Masame Savea, was born in Samoa.
