All Blacks captain Ardie Savea eyes long-term Kobe return after RWC
- Mark Pickering
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
All Blacks captain and League One winner Ardie Savea is eyeing a long-term post-Rugby World Cup return to reigning champions Kobe Steelers.
Savea, 32, was appointed as his country’s new captain on a permanent basis as part of Dave Rennie’s first squad announcement in June, just three weeks after helping the former Kobe head coach to clinch his first League One title.
The 2023 World Rugby Player of The Year, who started the All Blacks’ Nations Championship wins over France, Italy and Ireland at number eight this month, spent the 2024 season with Kobe and returned for a successful second stint last season.
“I love the city of Kobe, and I love the team, if I have the chance, I would like to play for Kobe Steelers again,” said Savea in an exit interview on the club’s website (translated from Japanese by RugbyJP.com).
“Next time I play for Kobe, I want to commit to it for a long time,” added the seven-time Rugby Championship winner who is yet to announce which Super Rugby side he will join next season.
Savea made 18 appearances last season and scored eight tries including a brace in their emphatic 69-23 semi-final win over Sam Cane and Cheslin Kolbe’s Suntory Sungoliath.
The 2023 World Cup runner-up made 228 tackles (sixth highest number) and was prominent in their come-from-behind 22-13 win over Kubota Spears in the League One final on Sunday 7 June.
Newly-crowned champions Kobe will have a new look next season after bidding farewell to key players Savea and countryman Anton Lienert-Brown as well as Rennie who has also brought attack coach Mike Blair and head of performance Phil Healey with him into his All Blacks setup.
Rennie’s former Kobe forwards coach Dan McFarland is now working as Newcastle Red Bulls’ new head coach while his former defence coach in Japan, Peter Murchie, started his new role with Wales last month.
Coaching legend Wayne Smith will return to the club in a hands-on capacity next season as their head of coaching in a mentorship role to his former player and World Cup winner Andy Ellis who RugbyJP.com understands will act as Rennie’s successor.
Talismanic captain and MVP Brodie Retallick has been retained with new signings Grant Williams, who visited the club earlier this week, and ex-All Black George Bridge filling the Category C spots (Test player for a country other than Japan) vacated by Savea and Lienert-Brown.
Due to Savea’s All Blacks commitments he missed the Japanese pre-season in 2023-2024 and 2025-2026 and hopes to be able to commit to a long-term deal in the future.
"Both this time and last time, I was only able to commit to the team for a short period of six months, so if there's a next time, I'd like to play for longer.
“If I can work with the team for several years, I can have a bigger impact and take on a leadership role.”
Savea enjoyed supporting co-captains Retallick and Seungsin Lee but believes that he has more to contribute.
“This season, as one of the more experienced players, I've supported co-captains Guzzler (Retallick) and Seungsin (Lee), but I think I can contribute to the team in an even better way. With only six months, I can't spend time with my teammates during the pre-season, and in terms of preparation, I'll have to adapt to the style while playing matches.
“I'll focus on the All Blacks until the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia, and then I'll think about what to do after that!"
Savea, who is now preparing for New Zealand’s Greatest Rivalry Tour in South Africa, offered a message of support to his former teammates as they aim to retain their League One crown under a new coaching regime.
"I want them to remember to have fun. I want them to approach it with consistency and enjoy rugby itself. I want them to be conscious of how much they can enjoy it, and I want them to stand at the top of League One again next season."
The All Blacks will kick off their South Africa tour against URC semi-finalists the Stormers on 7 August in Cape Town.