CSB - Sir Bryan Williams

Moana Pasifika have pulled off one of the biggest signings in Super Rugby history by recruiting World Rugby player of the year Ardie Savea.The All Blacks vice-captain has confirmed he is leaving the Hurricanes after 11 years to join Moana on a three-year contract through to the end of 2027.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Country Sport Breakfast with Brian Kelly on Gold Sport. Well,
Moana Pacifica have pulled off one of the biggest signings
in Super rugby history, I reckon by recruiting World player
of the Year Ardie Savia, the Black vice captain, has
confirmed he's leaving the Hurricanes after eleven years to join
Mowana on a three year contract through to the end

(00:21):
of twenty twenty seven. Joining us on the show this
morning is New Zealand and Pacifica Rugby Greats of Bryan
Williams of Brian Good morning.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah, good morning, Brian.

Speaker 1 (00:31):
How cool is that? Bg?

Speaker 2 (00:34):
It's fantastic news. You know, ARTI such a brilliant man
but also such a brilliant player. He's going to bring
a lot of excitement and joy to all our Minor
Pacifica supporters for sure.

Speaker 1 (00:53):
It's almost the perfect signing, really, isn't it for Moana Pacifica.

Speaker 2 (00:58):
Well, it sure is. And Artie and his brother Julian
obviously have just paid tribute to their heritage, as have
Tanah Humongo and I guess Sir Michael and myself coming
coming on board for this journey. It pays great, great

(01:18):
respect to our to our heritage and you know we've
had our challenges over the years just to have become
established as a Super rugby team of franchise and Arty
signing certainly gives it a major boost and that's.

Speaker 1 (01:33):
Going to mean a lot to the Samoan community, really,
isn't both in the Islands and also here in New Zealand.

Speaker 2 (01:40):
Oh most certainly. You know there's so many young Polynesian players,
not only in Auckland, but right throughout the country, Wellington, Northland,
you name it. You know, many Pacific Islanders are playing
and just just to know that there's a pathway, you know,

(02:01):
to go in to Super rugby and play alongside the
greats of the game is going to give Minor Partifka
a huge boost.

Speaker 1 (02:09):
It's look at you know, two wins in their first
season I think twenty twenty one and then four wins
this season, so they're certainly going up, aren't they improving?

Speaker 2 (02:19):
Oh yeah, it was always part of the vision to
to be able to attract our people, you know, modest
beginnings for sure, but as you say, four wins this
last season and attracting players of the top caliber is
obviously being part of our vision and Ladie signing certainly

(02:44):
kicks that off in a big way.

Speaker 1 (02:45):
And one of the cool things during the season was
seeing the game being played in the Islands and you know,
in one of the one of the smartt islands.

Speaker 2 (02:53):
Well not only in some More, but also in Tonna.
You know, we played a game in Tonner this as well,
and that that's always part of being part of the
plan as well to take the game back to the Islands,
and that's been part of our vision to be able
to create a super rugby competition and this part of

(03:15):
the world for our players and then feed them back
into the national teams of Tonga and some more. And
you know that that's certainly happening. I think at the
last World Cup both both Tonga and Simul you know,
produce some really good form and.

Speaker 1 (03:33):
I guess it's going to be more bums on seats
if they take another game to the Islands as well.

Speaker 2 (03:36):
Odor well certainly, but hopefully more bums on seats here
and at as well, because you know, he's a great attraction.
As I said, he's not only a great player, but
a great great man. He's you know, he talks about
mental health and and just a general well being of

(04:00):
of our people. And that's that's what is a really
attractive thing about it.

Speaker 1 (04:05):
Would you well, let's signing formal honor be you know,
meaning there'll be a couple more big players to come
perhaps for the for the next season.

Speaker 2 (04:13):
Well why not? Why not? You know, Ardie Ardi is
such a draw card. And you know there are lots
of our Pacific boys over over playing in the UK,
in Japan and France, and you know they they want
to come back and honor their heritage, honor their mom

(04:37):
and dad, honor their grandparents, and and that's the reason
I'm involved, certainly, and Sir Michael and Wumanga, you know,
we we want to honor our people.

Speaker 1 (04:49):
I think it's going to be inspirational for ton of
Umanga to have somebody you know who's right hand man
al most like Ardie Savia to be there inspiring the
younger players and the team when they start their build
up towards the next season.

Speaker 2 (05:02):
Most certainly none of those two, you know, obviously is
former Hurricanes pleasure. I actually coached Hurricanes back in the
day too, so we have got that link. But yeah,
that's certainly going to be a major boost of the
team and no doubt. Tama's had a big part to
do with it, no doubt about that, and now CEO

(05:24):
Pilen nat Or Sakalia. They did a great job and
we've now also joined forces with pm A Pacific Medical Association,
so they're very much part of this decision as well.

Speaker 1 (05:40):
Absolutely fantastic to have Arti there and thank you for
joining us, so Brian to talk about that, it's great
things for Mowana Pacifica, that's for sure. Yeah, thank you
very much, absolute pleasure. There we go, the legendary BG
joining us with the signing Formator Pacifica for nixt year
through to twenty twenty seven, which is great well. Blake
vice captain and World Rugby Player of the Year Ardie

(06:01):
Savia joining his brother Julian Saveer at Minor Pacifica