Sir Michael Jones: Moana Pasifika chair on Ardie Savea joining the Super Rugby franchise

Moana Pasifika's higher-ups are looking forward to welcoming Ardie Savea aboard.

Savea has signed with the Auckland-based Super Rugby franchise until his New Zealand Rugby contract expires in 2027, departing the Hurricanes after 11 years.

Moana Pasifika chair Sir Michael Jones says this is hugely significant for the world of Pacific rugby.

"His influence in the game is massive, so we do think that it's going to have a positive effect."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now listen, great news for more Wana Pacifica because Ardie
Savia has confirmed today that he's moving to the club
from next year and he'll be there all the way
through to twenty twenty seven. He's going to be rejoining
his brother Julian, who signed with more Wana Pacifica late
last year. Sir Michael Jones is the chair of the
club and is with us. Now, hey Michael, is this
a game changer?

Speaker 2 (00:21):
Yeah? For us it is, and I suppose for Pacific
rugby it's hugely significant. And yeah, I know we're very excited.
Thank you.

Speaker 1 (00:31):
Is do you think that this is going to draw
other people over?

Speaker 2 (00:37):
Yeah, I suppose the Artie effect would be we have
you know, world rugby player of the Year last year
and still life captain and one of the highest profile
Pacific athletes in the world probably and obviously as a
as a rugby player. You know, his mother is huge,
so his influence on the game there's massive. So yeah,

(00:58):
we do think that it's going to have a positive
effect in terms of you know, just not not so
much opening up. You know, I've always said it's a
bit of a wave we're riding, and it's it's getting bigger,
but you know it will have a bit of a
tsunamis in many ways for us, and that would be
one way would hope to you know, see more players

(01:20):
be inspired, I suppose and motivated to consider this pathway.

Speaker 1 (01:25):
Okay, now that you've got the number one signing you
can possibly get, which is obviously Adi, who's the next
one you want? Like if you could look around and
pick anybody else to join the club, who did they?

Speaker 2 (01:36):
I suppose this would be an exceptional rather than the
norm that we get getting We'd always intended to try
and get one really high profile marquee player when we
started this journey four years ago and so you know,
we're obviously delighted. It's it's just so massive for us,
but you know, we do need to continue to attract
players who are going to pin their college to the

(01:59):
building person with rugby, the I suppose some or Antongu
and national teams is very important and that's a big
part of our life. So we will have you know,
one or two like this, but we're always going to
keep our places available primarily for those who are on
their pathway. But it will definitely attract more and there

(02:19):
could be one or two others sort of in a
similar vein of Pacifica descent. I suppose you are wanting
to do something similar as Ardie has to suppose on
as their heritage, and I suppose this is the bladders
thick of the water.

Speaker 1 (02:36):
Yeah, well, good luck. I hope you get I hope
you get heaps more. Actually, after Ardie Salvia came over
that Sir Michael Jones one Pacifica chair. For more from
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