May 2, 2026 • 13 mins
Next week marks the start of Asthma Awareness Week 2026, and one All Blacks star has opened up about his experiences with the condition.
Julian Savea has been battling asthma for his whole life, but he says the condition's nothing to fear.
He joined Piney to discuss further.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk zb.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Are known to rugby fans as the Bus one of
the most powerful wingers ever to wear the Black jersey,
but his toughest battles haven't always been on the field
and all Blacks Great forty six tries in fifty four
test match is a key figure in the Rugby World
Cup win in twenty fifteen. His story is also one
of resilience off the field, living with asthma since birth
(00:35):
and at one stage nearly losing his life as a
young boy in Wellington. Now he's an ambassador for Asthma
Awareness Week and using that experience to deliver a pretty
simple but vital message. With the right management, asthma doesn't
have to hold you back, even at the very highest
level of sport. As he balances family life, the twilight
of his decorated rugby career and plans for life after
(00:59):
the game, his focus is shifting, but his desire to
make an impact remains as strong as ever. Julian Savia
is with us on Weekend Sport. Julian, you're an ambassador
for Asthma Awareness Weaken, giving your own story including that
life threatening attack as a child. What does this role
mean to you personally?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Hi, Jason, thanks for having me. I think, just for me,
it's just give awareness that it's it's not scary, and
you know, when you have it under control, it actually
becomes really easy. And I guess for me as someone
that's haid esthma, you know, my whole life being able
(01:41):
to reach I guess my own dreams, you know, especially
around the fitness area and the rugby stuff that I
was able to push through when get to where I
was again. But for me, esthma didn't really I didn't
feel like there was a disability or anything like that.
I just carried on through and sort of figured out
(02:04):
my routines around my Inhaler's and I just it's really
important for kids or even adults, you know, to know
that you can do whatever you want.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
What were the key parts for you of managing it,
of reaching the very top of your sport, even though
asthma was a part of your life, How did you
manage your what were your routines and your techniques.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
I think for me was definitely as a kid, the spacer.
Using the spacer was a big part, and obviously as
a kid, I hated it, but it's so important, especially
if it's the first time or as a little infant.
It definitely helps it and makes it easier. Because I
(02:45):
got older, as you said, like just figuring out my routines,
I just knew I had to take my prevena, which
was a serotide twice in the morning, twice at night.
And you know, as long as I did that, I
was pretty sweet. And then I just figured out my triggers.
You know, sometimes I might have a couple of beers
and they might trigger it, or cold night, cold morning,
I just you know, I had had to have mine
(03:06):
haler in hand.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
I know that there are parents listening who have have
children who have asthma, and they probably worry about whether
they can reach their full potential in sport and in life.
What advice would you give to parents of children with asthma?
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Honestly, like, just for me, I got educated pretty I guess,
you know, once I started playing rugby in high school
and realized how important it was to have a routine
and just and the lucky thing for me, mom had asthma,
so I learned from her and that sort of made
(03:47):
things easier for me to sort of understand and understand
the importance of of my routine and make sure I'm
always doing it. It's like, you know, I always say it,
it's like brushing your teeth, and just thought it out
of habit.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
And you said before that you with a spacer as
a child, you hated it. What was that?
Speaker 3 (04:05):
I think it was just something new, you know, something
going over your mouth. It becomes quite scary, you know,
as a kid, and so you don't you don't really know,
but it's so important for you when it just makes
it easy instead of trying to you know, I guess,
shove that halo, you know, down your your child's mouth.
The space is a little bit better.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Fair enough, one of eight keyways, Asthma reflects, that's a
that's a big number. How important though, was awareness education?
Correct in Hailey use? How important is that to be?
You know a continued conversation.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I think it's massively important. And again, like coming up
through my years, I didn't think it was important because
you know, I didn't think it was a disability or anything.
I was just going through life with it, you know
what I mean. And as I said, you know, once
(05:00):
I got understood the education around it around. Why it's
important to take it morning, was important to take it
every night. It was that just you know, in some
cases and parts of my life, it kind of goes
away a little bit. You you don't need John Halis
and in some cases gets really bad, but you know,
and it's just just knowing how to deal with situations.
(05:22):
That's that's what keeps keeps everyone calm. And you know,
when you're prepared for that stuff because you're educated, it
just makes it a lot easier.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Great advice, great advice. How Wally got you would be
remissibly not to chettle but rugby with you. I still
remember your test Dayboo June twenty twelve, Ireland and Auckland.
Three tries on test Dayboo. Half overd are your memories
of that night?
Speaker 3 (05:47):
No? I was pretty vivid, to be honest, A very
very special night for me. And man, I'll say it
all to half said it then and i'll say it now,
like I was able to just finish, you know, finish
a lot of tries off, which I remember being BC
giving my first try. He said he's given a lot
of debuts or debut ees their first tries. So I
(06:11):
was pretty grateful.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah, it's a pretty handy player, I'd say I think
Dan Carter was at first five. He had Toney Bill
and Conrad Smith and midfield. So you're likely to get
You're likely to get a few opportunities, I guess, Yeah,
for sure. Yeah, and you went on and it was
a prolific career, Jillian. Did you ever feel did you
ever feel pressure? You know, you know you're nicknamed the
bus Everyone expected every time you played that that you
(06:34):
would just run over the top of people and score tries.
Did you feel feel pressure?
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Yeah, I'd probably be lying to myself if I say
I didn't. Definitely, there was a lot of pressure, not
just from I guess the expectations, but just being in
their black jersey, you know, just a lot of the
old old boys used to say it. You know, it's
easy to get into the team and it's it's harder
(07:00):
to stay there. Yea, and so so so that pressure
of just trying to do everything right, making sure my
preparation was all good every week, and just putting on
consistant performances on the weekend. So yeah, no, one hundred
percent of the pressure is up there, not not only
the external but within the team the.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Twenty fifteen Rugby World Cup Golden Era. You played a
massive part in it. What made that All Black's environments
so special?
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Okay? I guess for me just during that time, it
was pretty surreal myself just to be a part of
a World Cup team. And I don't know, I think
just having that group of leadership men that were there,
it just made everything so much easier smoother. So I
think that's really important, you know, you know, Richie Rido,
(07:49):
DC Conrad, Jerome Kina, all those guys, Kivy, I think
they're their presence just makes us younger boys just feel
like I can just focus on my job and get
on with what I need to do to prepare well
for each game. So I think the oil that that
(08:09):
they brought definitely made things easier for for Ushen and Fellows.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Yeah, he just reeled off half a dozen greats of
the game there and that no wonder, No, I wonder
what was so successful? Incredible. If we come to the
present day, how challenging has it been this season with
Mowana Pacific the future of the team now in serious doubt.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Yeah, I mean, look, you know, with it's definitely been
hard and obviously we haven't been given the results that
we that we wanted, and then obviously being hit with
the news about potentially not continuing next year, that's even
you know what that coming in as well, that's just
made it ten times difficult and just you know, just
(08:50):
went on the boys and minds and you know, I
feel for the boys and at the moment I can't
get on the field. So yeah, it definitely has been tough.
But you know, we're we're chucking through every week and
you know, trying to get the work done. And I
thought the boys played bloody bloody well last night, especially
in that first half, were just you know, dropped off
(09:11):
in the second half and it's just disappointing and to see.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
So so three games to go, I think you've you're
recovering from a dislocated shoulder, aren't you. Are we going
to see you back before the end of the season.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
I honestly hope so, so I'm not too far off.
I'm just trying to find that confidence to come back
in and sort of you know, start contact training. So yeah,
I hope I get to play before the season ends.
I think we only got two more games because I
think we've got to buy in there.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
So, yeah, you know, the next one or the last one.
So we'll see.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
I hope so, I hope so. And I guess at
some point in the last little while you would have
started thinking about the next phase of your life, you know,
transitioning out of rugby. I know how difficult that is
for players, and you know, a lot of the super
rugby clubs have alumni set up that you know that
helped with that transition. What will your transition out of
rugby look like? You've obviously started to think about what
(10:07):
that next step might be.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Yeah, I've been thinking about it for you know, for
the last three two three years obviously, you know, at
the back end of my career, you know, but but
at the stage just figuring what my options and and
I figured out that I've got a passion for coaching,
and there's some some businesses that I would like to
(10:32):
venture in. And I know, recovery just just being a
young fellow didn't really take that. You know, I'll walk
up to Jim Sishi's and just you know, straight into
the lists. But you know, now, sort of playing in
the game for so long, I understand why it's so important,
(10:52):
and like I always wondered, I was a big advocate
for recovery and reheads and prehead and I used to
sit there thinking, you know, what the heck's he doing? Man?
But you know that's but you know, you see him
still playing now, you know, And that's kind of where
(11:12):
I want to be, you know, just just following us
footsteps and understanding how how important recovery is and making
sure the body is well good stuff.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
What do you think back to your upbringing in Wellington?
How much is that early part of your life shaped
the way that you have lived your life.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Oh, I think it's been massive, especially with all my
family there and we kind of all went to the
same school. So yeah, it's been massive, a messive part
of my life. You know, Mom and Dad played rugby,
aunties and uncles and and and all my cousins that
(11:54):
we all played rugby, so it was just almost like
a natural thing to do, you know, like to play
another sport was almost forbidden.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Well, you got pretty good at this one. Just to finish,
just to finish, and look, I hope there's more to come,
and whether it be the season or beyond what we
wait and see. But when when you do eventually decide
to you know, to call it. Quote, what do you
hope people will think when they remember you on a
rugby field?
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Oh? Just you know, hope they thought that was great.
But I guess for me, like as I'm at the
back of my career, you know, I've realized there's so
much more than rugby. So for me, I just want
to be really really awesome teammate friends like that. Those
(12:47):
are the memories I'm probably going to miss the most.
Seeing all the young fellows come through and and sort
of help them guide them through their careers. That's probably
what I'm going to miss. But hopefully if I've been coaching,
I can still do that. So yeah, I think just
a good man, working and a great player in parts
(13:12):
of the years i've played rugby. Sir.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Yeah, well I am. I just rolled some YouTube of
your tries before I chat it to you, and I
just I just found myself with majure on the ground.
You know, it's just amazing what you did in that
black jersey and for the Hurricanes and on as well. Julian,
It's some Yeah, yeah, mate, You've got a special part
of our in our rugby history. Congratulations on your role
as an ambassador for Asthma Awareness Week, which is this
(13:37):
week ahead. World Asthma Day is Tuesday, the fifth of May.
Look mate, great to catch up, great to chat, all
the best for what lies ahead.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
Thank you, Jesson, appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
No, thank you, Julian. Julian savea there joining us on
News Talks EDB and Weekend Sport.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk zb.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Are known to rugby fans as the Bus one of
the most powerful wingers ever to wear the Black jersey,
but his toughest battles haven't always been on the field
and all Blacks Great forty six tries in fifty four
test match is a key figure in the Rugby World
Cup win in twenty fifteen. His story is also one
of resilience off the field, living with asthma since birth
(00:35):
and at one stage nearly losing his life as a
young boy in Wellington. Now he's an ambassador for Asthma
Awareness Week and using that experience to deliver a pretty
simple but vital message. With the right management, asthma doesn't
have to hold you back, even at the very highest
level of sport. As he balances family life, the twilight
of his decorated rugby career and plans for life after
(00:59):
the game, his focus is shifting, but his desire to
make an impact remains as strong as ever. Julian Savia
is with us on Weekend Sport. Julian, you're an ambassador
for Asthma Awareness Weaken, giving your own story including that
life threatening attack as a child. What does this role
mean to you personally?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Hi, Jason, thanks for having me. I think, just for me,
it's just give awareness that it's it's not scary, and
you know, when you have it under control, it actually
becomes really easy. And I guess for me as someone
that's haid esthma, you know, my whole life being able
(01:41):
to reach I guess my own dreams, you know, especially
around the fitness area and the rugby stuff that I
was able to push through when get to where I
was again. But for me, esthma didn't really I didn't
feel like there was a disability or anything like that.
I just carried on through and sort of figured out
(02:04):
my routines around my Inhaler's and I just it's really
important for kids or even adults, you know, to know
that you can do whatever you want.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
What were the key parts for you of managing it,
of reaching the very top of your sport, even though
asthma was a part of your life, How did you
manage your what were your routines and your techniques.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
I think for me was definitely as a kid, the spacer.
Using the spacer was a big part, and obviously as
a kid, I hated it, but it's so important, especially
if it's the first time or as a little infant.
It definitely helps it and makes it easier. Because I
(02:45):
got older, as you said, like just figuring out my routines,
I just knew I had to take my prevena, which
was a serotide twice in the morning, twice at night.
And you know, as long as I did that, I
was pretty sweet. And then I just figured out my triggers.
You know, sometimes I might have a couple of beers
and they might trigger it, or cold night, cold morning,
I just you know, I had had to have mine
(03:06):
haler in hand.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
I know that there are parents listening who have have
children who have asthma, and they probably worry about whether
they can reach their full potential in sport and in life.
What advice would you give to parents of children with asthma?
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Honestly, like, just for me, I got educated pretty I guess,
you know, once I started playing rugby in high school
and realized how important it was to have a routine
and just and the lucky thing for me, mom had asthma,
so I learned from her and that sort of made
(03:47):
things easier for me to sort of understand and understand
the importance of of my routine and make sure I'm
always doing it. It's like, you know, I always say it,
it's like brushing your teeth, and just thought it out
of habit.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
And you said before that you with a spacer as
a child, you hated it. What was that?
Speaker 3 (04:05):
I think it was just something new, you know, something
going over your mouth. It becomes quite scary, you know,
as a kid, and so you don't you don't really know,
but it's so important for you when it just makes
it easy instead of trying to you know, I guess,
shove that halo, you know, down your your child's mouth.
The space is a little bit better.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Fair enough, one of eight keyways, Asthma reflects, that's a
that's a big number. How important though, was awareness education?
Correct in Hailey use? How important is that to be?
You know a continued conversation.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I think it's massively important. And again, like coming up
through my years, I didn't think it was important because
you know, I didn't think it was a disability or anything.
I was just going through life with it, you know
what I mean. And as I said, you know, once
(05:00):
I got understood the education around it around. Why it's
important to take it morning, was important to take it
every night. It was that just you know, in some
cases and parts of my life, it kind of goes
away a little bit. You you don't need John Halis
and in some cases gets really bad, but you know,
and it's just just knowing how to deal with situations.
(05:22):
That's that's what keeps keeps everyone calm. And you know,
when you're prepared for that stuff because you're educated, it
just makes it a lot easier.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Great advice, great advice. How Wally got you would be
remissibly not to chettle but rugby with you. I still
remember your test Dayboo June twenty twelve, Ireland and Auckland.
Three tries on test Dayboo. Half overd are your memories
of that night?
Speaker 3 (05:47):
No? I was pretty vivid, to be honest, A very
very special night for me. And man, I'll say it
all to half said it then and i'll say it now,
like I was able to just finish, you know, finish
a lot of tries off, which I remember being BC
giving my first try. He said he's given a lot
of debuts or debut ees their first tries. So I
(06:11):
was pretty grateful.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah, it's a pretty handy player, I'd say I think
Dan Carter was at first five. He had Toney Bill
and Conrad Smith and midfield. So you're likely to get
You're likely to get a few opportunities, I guess, Yeah,
for sure. Yeah, and you went on and it was
a prolific career, Jillian. Did you ever feel did you
ever feel pressure? You know, you know you're nicknamed the
bus Everyone expected every time you played that that you
(06:34):
would just run over the top of people and score tries.
Did you feel feel pressure?
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Yeah, I'd probably be lying to myself if I say
I didn't. Definitely, there was a lot of pressure, not
just from I guess the expectations, but just being in
their black jersey, you know, just a lot of the
old old boys used to say it. You know, it's
easy to get into the team and it's it's harder
(07:00):
to stay there. Yea, and so so so that pressure
of just trying to do everything right, making sure my
preparation was all good every week, and just putting on
consistant performances on the weekend. So yeah, no, one hundred
percent of the pressure is up there, not not only
the external but within the team the.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Twenty fifteen Rugby World Cup Golden Era. You played a
massive part in it. What made that All Black's environments
so special?
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Okay? I guess for me just during that time, it
was pretty surreal myself just to be a part of
a World Cup team. And I don't know, I think
just having that group of leadership men that were there,
it just made everything so much easier smoother. So I
think that's really important, you know, you know, Richie Rido,
(07:49):
DC Conrad, Jerome Kina, all those guys, Kivy, I think
they're their presence just makes us younger boys just feel
like I can just focus on my job and get
on with what I need to do to prepare well
for each game. So I think the oil that that
(08:09):
they brought definitely made things easier for for Ushen and Fellows.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Yeah, he just reeled off half a dozen greats of
the game there and that no wonder, No, I wonder
what was so successful? Incredible. If we come to the
present day, how challenging has it been this season with
Mowana Pacific the future of the team now in serious doubt.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Yeah, I mean, look, you know, with it's definitely been
hard and obviously we haven't been given the results that
we that we wanted, and then obviously being hit with
the news about potentially not continuing next year, that's even
you know what that coming in as well, that's just
made it ten times difficult and just you know, just
(08:50):
went on the boys and minds and you know, I
feel for the boys and at the moment I can't
get on the field. So yeah, it definitely has been tough.
But you know, we're we're chucking through every week and
you know, trying to get the work done. And I
thought the boys played bloody bloody well last night, especially
in that first half, were just you know, dropped off
(09:11):
in the second half and it's just disappointing and to see.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
So so three games to go, I think you've you're
recovering from a dislocated shoulder, aren't you. Are we going
to see you back before the end of the season.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
I honestly hope so, so I'm not too far off.
I'm just trying to find that confidence to come back
in and sort of you know, start contact training. So yeah,
I hope I get to play before the season ends.
I think we only got two more games because I
think we've got to buy in there.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
So, yeah, you know, the next one or the last one.
So we'll see.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
I hope so, I hope so. And I guess at
some point in the last little while you would have
started thinking about the next phase of your life, you know,
transitioning out of rugby. I know how difficult that is
for players, and you know, a lot of the super
rugby clubs have alumni set up that you know that
helped with that transition. What will your transition out of
rugby look like? You've obviously started to think about what
(10:07):
that next step might be.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Yeah, I've been thinking about it for you know, for
the last three two three years obviously, you know, at
the back end of my career, you know, but but
at the stage just figuring what my options and and
I figured out that I've got a passion for coaching,
and there's some some businesses that I would like to
(10:32):
venture in. And I know, recovery just just being a
young fellow didn't really take that. You know, I'll walk
up to Jim Sishi's and just you know, straight into
the lists. But you know, now, sort of playing in
the game for so long, I understand why it's so important,
(10:52):
and like I always wondered, I was a big advocate
for recovery and reheads and prehead and I used to
sit there thinking, you know, what the heck's he doing? Man?
But you know that's but you know, you see him
still playing now, you know, And that's kind of where
(11:12):
I want to be, you know, just just following us
footsteps and understanding how how important recovery is and making
sure the body is well good stuff.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
What do you think back to your upbringing in Wellington?
How much is that early part of your life shaped
the way that you have lived your life.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Oh, I think it's been massive, especially with all my
family there and we kind of all went to the
same school. So yeah, it's been massive, a messive part
of my life. You know, Mom and Dad played rugby,
aunties and uncles and and and all my cousins that
(11:54):
we all played rugby, so it was just almost like
a natural thing to do, you know, like to play
another sport was almost forbidden.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Well, you got pretty good at this one. Just to finish,
just to finish, and look, I hope there's more to come,
and whether it be the season or beyond what we
wait and see. But when when you do eventually decide
to you know, to call it. Quote, what do you
hope people will think when they remember you on a
rugby field?
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Oh? Just you know, hope they thought that was great.
But I guess for me, like as I'm at the
back of my career, you know, I've realized there's so
much more than rugby. So for me, I just want
to be really really awesome teammate friends like that. Those
(12:47):
are the memories I'm probably going to miss the most.
Seeing all the young fellows come through and and sort
of help them guide them through their careers. That's probably
what I'm going to miss. But hopefully if I've been coaching,
I can still do that. So yeah, I think just
a good man, working and a great player in parts
(13:12):
of the years i've played rugby. Sir.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Yeah, well I am. I just rolled some YouTube of
your tries before I chat it to you, and I
just I just found myself with majure on the ground.
You know, it's just amazing what you did in that
black jersey and for the Hurricanes and on as well. Julian,
It's some Yeah, yeah, mate, You've got a special part
of our in our rugby history. Congratulations on your role
as an ambassador for Asthma Awareness Week, which is this
(13:37):
week ahead. World Asthma Day is Tuesday, the fifth of May.
Look mate, great to catch up, great to chat, all
the best for what lies ahead.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
Thank you, Jesson, appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
No, thank you, Julian. Julian savea there joining us on
News Talks EDB and Weekend Sport.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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The MeatEater Podcast
Building on the belief that a deeper understanding of the natural world enriches all of our lives, host Steven Rinella brings an in-depth and relevant look at all outdoor topics including hunting, fishing, nature, conservation, and wild foods. Filled with humor, irreverence, and things that will surprise the hell out of you, each episode welcomes a diverse group of guests who add their own expertise to the vast world of the outdoors. Part of The MeatEater Podcast Network.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.