Debbie Sorensen: Moana Pasifika CEO on Ardie Savea taking a sabbatical during the 2026 Super Rugby season

Moana Pasifika are downplaying their dependence on outgoing skipper Ardie Savea. 

He will miss Super Rugby next year to take up a sabbatical in Japan, before making a 2027 return. 

Savea is signed with NZR through to the end of the 2027 World Cup in Australia and will end up spending half of that cycle playing in Japan. 

Franchise boss Debbie Sorensen told Mike Hosking that Savea’s contribution might look inordinate, but there’s a lot of things that go together to make the team work really well. 

She says that he’s worked quite hard to ensure he’s not the single outlier, working hard to bring the squad together and mentor other players. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
As the Super Rugby cant comes to a conclusion. This
weekend we get the news that Ardie SRV is not
going to be around next year for Mawana PACIFICA because
he's off to Japan again on a sabbatical. Now, Debbie
Sorenson's the Mawana Pacific A CEO and is with us.
Good morning, good morning to you mate. Is this a
shock or has it been coming?

Speaker 2 (00:17):
Oh no, it's not a shock at all. It's a
normal part of professional players' careers. And you know, we
are very lucky with the gift of ardi in this
last season and so for him to go away for
a sabbatical and really you know, recharges batteries. We're looking
forward to him returning.

Speaker 1 (00:38):
Was everybody on the same page, all the players, all
the management or the organization.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
Indeed we are. We've just had the most miraculous season
this year, given that it's our fourth year running, and
to do so well and to beat all the major
New Zealand clubs has really been exciting for us. So
what we've seen this we've seen real potential in real
hope and we know that we can make finals footy.

Speaker 1 (01:05):
It's just a matter of when did you say something
to Ardie like what you just told me, and how
wonderful it's been, and wouldn't he like to hang around
a bit longer and you know, take it to the
next level.

Speaker 2 (01:16):
But I've said to Ardie is thank you for what
you've done for us this share and we've appreciated all
of that that we wish him well for next year.
Certainly if he changed his mind and wanted to stay,
we'd be delighted. But you know, I think it's a
big thing to support your players in their career and
what they need to do to you know, carry on.
And so this is a key part of Ardie's game,

(01:40):
end of his career. So we wish him well next year.
And having that relationship with Japan is a good thing
for us. You know, it's good for Super Rugby Club
to have a relationship with Japan and that's what we're
able to build on with him going there this next season.

Speaker 1 (01:54):
Is it unfortunate to the extent that he's made in
a team game, he's made an outside contribution, hasn't he.
I mean he's been brilliant.

Speaker 2 (02:03):
He has been brilliant. And there's two things I'd say
about that. He has played what I would consider the
best rugby of his life playing for us, and a
lot of that is that he's just enjoyed it and
it's his whole authentic self. You know, he can bring
his whole self to the club and be who he is.
But what he's done is he's lifted the whole club,

(02:24):
like he's lifted the squad, who you know, understand what
it looks like if they can see what it looks
like to be a professional plan. And also the club
and the fans. You know, we've had the most incredible
turnout from our fans this year, and you know we're
filling that and all how the stadium without much of
a problem. So I think it might look inordinate, but

(02:49):
actually there's a lot of things that go together to
make it work really well. And Addie has worked quite
hard to make sure that he's not you know, those
single outla He's worked hard to bring the squad together.
He's done lots of mentoring of the leaders. He's just
been amazing.

Speaker 1 (03:07):
Did he has Debbie appreciate it? DeBie Sorenson, who's the
one specificate CEO. For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast,
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