Former All Blacks wing Julian Savea has revealed that he will be furthering his Super Rugby career at a new club after parting ways with the Hurricanes.
The 33-year-old represented the Hurricanes in 152 matches during 11 seasons and earlier this year he equalled Israel Folau’s record for most Super Rugby tries (60).
Savea broke the news of his exit from the Wellington-based franchise in an Instagram post on Saturday.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure to represent this club and my home team over the past 11 years and I’m grateful for the brotherhood I formed over the years, the memories I have made, the knowledge I have learnt and milestones I’ve achieved at the Hurricanes,” he wrote.
Proud of his legacy
“I know the legacy I have created here for myself is something I am very proud of and will cherish for the rest of my life. Not the departure I had planned or hoped for, but that’s rugby for you and sometimes it’s brutal.”
Savea was deemed surplus to requirements at the Hurricanes, who already have fellow speedsters Kini Naholo, Joshua Moorby, Daniel Sinkinson and Salesi Rayasi on their books for the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.
In a second Instagram post, Savea revealed that he will further his Super Rugby career at another club although he did not specify which team it is.
“I still have plenty of more years in the tank,” Savea said. “I will be joining another Super Rugby team and will be announcing that next week. Watch this space.”
Meanwhile, Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee addressed Savea’s departure from the club and admitted that poor contract negotiations led to the former All Black’s exit.
Lee also revealed that a change in the Hurricanes’ coaching staff, with Clarke Laidlaw replacing Jason Holland as head coach, played a part in Savea’s departure.
“There were conversations taking place between coaches and the player, and obviously that didn’t work out in Julian’s favour,” he told the New Zealand Herald. “It’s massively difficult to go through a process like that and see a legend of the club leaving.
“The fact we had a new coaching setup was definitely a complication because that person hadn’t started, the coaches had to discuss players and contracts, who might be coming in and who might not be.
“For me, it’s the coach’s decision, but I stand beside it. But that was a part of the puzzle and was a complication.”
Fine debut season for the Hurricanes
Savea made his Hurricanes debut in 2010 and scored eight tries for the club during that season.
After eight seasons, he moved to Top 14 outfit Toulon, but returned to the Hurricanes in 2020 for the Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign.
He scored a hat-trick against Ireland on his All Blacks debut in 2012 and went on to make 54 appearances at Test level, scoring 46 tries, which is second on his country’s all-time list behind Doug Howlett who crossed the whitewash 49 times.
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