Ardie Savea – Playing Rugby In The JRLO Has Been A Blessing

A small contingent of international media was left waiting this week as the World Rugby Player of the Year gave up some of his time to discuss his season thus far in Japan playing in the JRLO with Kobelco Kobe Steelers. What we learned is that Ardie Savea, who we already knew was a remarkably talented player, is also not what you would expect but in the best possible way, and his authenticity and transparency were refreshing

In his first season with Kobelco Kobe Steelers, Savea has scored sevens tries in the Japan Rugby League One, including four on one afternoon when the Steelers beat a Toyota Verblitz side coached by his former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, and included All Black teammates Beauden Barrett and Aaron Smith.

Savea is tied in fifth place among individual try-scorers for the season but the personal accolades seem to pale in comparison to the rejuvenation and refreshing new lease on life the move to Japan has given Savea. He was particularly complimentary of his coach, former Wallabies and Chiefs Coach, Dave Rennie. The Kobe club appointed him for this season but also has former All Blacks Men’s and Women’s coach Wayne Smith as a Director of Rugby and recently announced Dan Carter as a consultant!

Of Rennie, Ardie talked of his admiration of how inclusive the Head Coach has been, teaching the players Samoan, Tongan and Japanese songs so all of the “boys” buy into the team culture.

“It’s actually a real blessing to come to Japan and we’ve got a real class coach that’s coaching the team. I love his details as a coach, and I love the fact that he incorporates culture and makes sure everybody, including the families over here, are all welcome all together. Because you’ve got so many different backgrounds, especially in the Kobe team, I’ve been loving it.”

Photo Credit: JRLO / Kobelco Kobe Steelers

Savea is a devout family man and religious – he said Kobe and the surroundings have played their part in him and his family enjoying Japan. “My family loves it. My wife loves it here. So that’s the most important thing for me – a Happy Family = Happy Me. It’s been amazing being here so far.”

When he signed the sabbatical to play in Japan, at the time, Ardie Savea said, “Playing in Japan is going to be an awesome experience and I’m ready to embrace their beautiful culture.” He has fully embraced those ambitions it seems.

When asked what specifically he has enjoyed while at Kobe, Ardie was unfiltered, as he was throughout the 45-minute media session. “I feel like a rookie and am living every moment. The team, the footy, the environment” were all aspects, in his words, he has cherished.

Other Kiwi teammates at Kobe include Bryn Gatland and Brodie Retallick as well as Ngani Laumape who Savea says is a good mate. Of Retallick (nicknamed Guzzler), Savea said, “It’s been awesome having him here and he’s my locker room neighbour. We talk about what’s going on and Super Rugby. He’s bringing the same intensity at Kobe, he’s a soldier, a workhorse, and a leader, he’s just doing his thing over here in Japan.”

Of Laumape he added he was really close with him and that having friends like that has helped make the transition to being in Japan that much easier.

Photo Credit: JRLO / Kobelco Kobe Steelers

Savea played ten seasons for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and admitted in retrospect, “I don’t think I knew what I was getting into coming to Japan. Without knowing that and now being here, I’m like, damn, I needed this. It’s been so refreshing, even just having different coaches, friends and other foreign coaches on this team, and how they coach and what they see. Just learning and just picking the brains has just been really refreshing.”

The big problem with the JRLO side last season was an inability to contain the opposition defensively, with Kobe exceeding 30 points or more on 11 occasions in 16 games. Now they are sitting well within the hunt for semi-final playoffs but there are still a few rounds to go.

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On Pasifika Representation In Rugby – Ardie Savea

Ardiea Savea has recently collaborated on a new Voyager Pack rugby boots with Asics which are designed by New Zealand-based Samoan graphic designer, Jarryd Saifoloi, with the designs paying homage to Fijian, Tongan, Māori, and Samoan cultures.

“That’s really close to my heart and probably has been one of my favourite projects that I’ve done in my career and in my life so far. People see the fruit of it now but it’s kind of been six years in the making, and building relationships with ethics and being able to bring something forward to represent my culture and other people’s culture. I think Pasifika needs more representation and more acknowledgement, especially in our game.”

Ardie Savea has released these Voyager Pack rugby boots with Asics

This past week was also the first-ever Pasifika Rugby Hall of Fame induction in New Zealand and  Ardie Savea is the recipient of the Jonah Lomu Award for the most influential Pasifika male player in the world.

“I think it’s very important. We need representation in the game and the Hall of Fame – I remember speaking to Michael Jones about it and it just warms my heart.”

Rugby Is Not Everything

One thing that came across from this colossal rugby player is that rugby is not everything for him.  He loves the game but he seems to know, or better appreciate, a broader horizon to life.

It was some surprise when asked how much attention he was paying to their global rugby competitions, and he commented, “I’ll catch a bit online, like highlights and stuff. But, man, one thing with me, I train, I play, I do my analysis and after that – No rugby. I just get away from it.”

Photo Credit: Dan Carter – Ardie Savea with ‘some friends’ in Kobe, Japan

Although RWC 2023 Is In The Past – It Still Stings

Although, for now, this is a one-season deal to play in Japan, and under the terms of the four-year contract extension he signed with New Zealand Rugby (NZR), the All Black will transfer and be eligible for the All Blacks again in mid-2024 at the end of the JRLO season.

It’s not something he is putting too much energy into now, he said, despite being tipped by many as a potential All Black captain for the season.

Ardie didn’t want to get pulled into the New Zealand captaincy, or even team selection baited questions from media looking to complete articles they seemingly had prepared and were fishing for applicable soundbites to wrap them up.

“To be honest, I’ve kind of just kept away from New Zealand Rugby. I’ve just watched the Hurricanes boys and the Bus (Julian Savea – his brother) at Moana Pasifika.”

Although he has been in touch with the new All Black Coach Scott Robertson, who was in Japan recently and attended a Kobe match, Savea was adamant he still has to earn his right to be called up and had no insights into how the new coaching team wanted to approach the coming campaigns.

Photo Credit: NZRU

Whether it was smart media training or Savea being coy, we got the feeling he didn’t want to disrespect the jersey or that of his current club where his focus currently lies.

The Rugby World Cup 2023 final loss to the Springboks is one he said he pored over to a degree.

“I’ve had to process it and think of what we could have done better, but it’s done now. And I think for myself personally, the only way to move on is to do my best for Kobe and reflect on the good in that campaign. What we can learn from, you know, as a leader, and then hopefully use that to better myself here. And then obviously, better myself in the future, whatever that is and wherever that takes me.”

On the South African sides, Savea is just the latest of many NZ voices who say they miss playing them in Super Rugby. If he was selected for the matches against the Boks in 2024, he would relish the chance to play them.

“It’ll be awesome to be able to make that team, and to be a part of that and come back to South Africa to play the world champions, there will be a bit sting in that and that will be good.”

The Quality Of Rugby In Japan Surprised Him (And The Fans Are Fiercely Loyal)

Photo Credit: JRLO / Kobelco Kobe Steelers

Ardie Savea was also very upfront with how impressed he has been with the quality of rugby in Japan and the younger generations of players coming through.

“It’s scary how much the world’s evolving, and the game’s evolving in different countries. And I think that the best thing about being out of New Zealand is playing against guys; playing against different varieties of players, different styles,” he said.

New Zealand face Japan later in 2024 for a test match, while England also will tour Japan this year.

“It’s gonna be interesting. England is real class, as we all know. With Japan, like being here playing against some of the guys, man, they can play. My legs have never been chopped down so many times over here in Japan.” 

He recommended two players from Kobelco Kobe Steelers to keep an eye on; 23-year-old centre Seungsin Lee (of Korean heritage) who was with the Brave Blossoms at RWC 2023 and 24-year-old winger Kanta Matsunaga who has also been capped by Japan, and who Savea dubbed the ‘Kolbe of Japan’. 

On the fans, other regions might have a lot to learn from Japan (whose post-game cleanups are already legendary).

Photo Credit: JRLO / Kobelco Kobe Steelers

“No disrespect to the other fans, but over here, we lost three games in a row and the fans will turn up to our gate, to our stadium, with the posters with the signs. They love us – regardless if we win or we lose or we draw. Like in New Zealand, players go through Facebook and they see an article about themselves and they’re tempted to not read the comments, and it’s “ah this guy sucks” etc. But in Japan mate, there is none of that, like the fans love us.’

He concluded in retrospect of this experience and the love of being in Japan and the Japan Rugby League One, “The only demand is that which you put on yourself and the expectations within the team, your coach and yourself. You don’t have to deal with the other external factors. That’s something that’s different to the rest of the world.”

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