Ardie Savea: I'm praying there's a Moana Pasifika next year

Kobe Steelers loose-forward Ardie Savea is eyeing League One glory against Kubota Spears on Sunday but admits his former club Moana Pasifika are still in his thoughts as uncertainty continues to surround the Super Rugby franchise's future.

The 2023 World Rugby Player of the Year starts at openside flanker for Dave Rennie's side who are gracing the League One final for the first time.

Table-topping Kobe, who are led by free-scoring captain Brodie Retallick, will face Bernard Foley and Shaun Stevenson's Kubota - who have knocked out Richie Mo'unga's back-to-back champions Toshiba Brave Lupus and inaugural winners Saitama Wild Knights - in the showpiece event at Tokyo's MUFG Stadium.

While Savea, 32, a leading contender for the All Blacks captaincy, is focused on delivering the club's first title since their 2018 Top League triumph, he is also hoping the club he captained last season can survive.

"I've still got faith, if there's 1% chance of survival that's all we need," Savea told RugbyJP.com.

"I'm hoping and praying there's a Moana next year. I'm hoping and praying the boys are ok.

"As you can see for them to turn up every Saturday under these circumstances the last few weeks it's a testament to the characters who are in that team. I'm wishing everyone the best and hopefully it'll work out."

Savea played a leading role in Moana Pasifika's historic 2025 Super Rugby campaign before rejoining Kobe for a League One title tilt alongside All Blacks teammate Anton Lienert-Brown.

He remains deeply connected to the beleaguered Auckland-based franchise who ended their season with a historic 21-19 upset victory against the ACT Brumbies a week ago.

Several rescue plans have been proposed by ex-players and potential sponsors but the club's future remains in the balance amid concerns of financial viability. The New Zealand Rugby Players Association has been involved in helping to try and source new backers for the club with a final decision on their future expected be made within a matter of weeks.

For now, however, Savea's immediate focus is on lifting the League One trophy for the first time.

New Zealand's Test rugby centurion has been one of the competition's standout performers and scored two tries in their emphatic 69-23 semi-final victory over Suntory Sungoliath.

Savea praised the leadership within the star-studded squad, particularly the influence of 17-try captain Retallick and Japan fly-half and co-captain Lee Seung-sin.

"Our Japanese brothers are leading really well and I think that's a testament to our leadership group with Guz (Brodie Retallick) and Lee (Seung-sin) with how they lead and the freedom they give the boys to play," he said.

Savea believes his side is ready for the occasion.

"We understand the intensity, it's a great occasion and challenge for us.

"I care about the team, the brothers next to me and the people supporting us and who we represent.

"We've been able to keep on improving this season and now we've got one job left. It's going to be very tough."

Kobe (1-15): Shigure Takao, Ash Dixon, Hiroshi Yamashita, Brodie Retallick (c), Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Tiennan Costley, Ardie Savea, Waisake Raratubua, Itsuki Kamimura, Lee Seung-sin, Inoke Burua, Tali Ioasa, Anton Lienert-brown, Kazuma Ueda, Shunsuke Uenobo

Replacements: Kenta Matsuoka, Sho Maeda, Jiwon Gu, Naohiro Kotaki, Solomone Funaki, Daiki Nakajima, Bryn Gatland, Michael Little

Kubota (1-15): Yota Kamimori, Hayate Era, Keijiro Tamefusa, Merwe Olivier, David Bulbring, Akira Ieremia, Takeo Suenaga, Faulua Makisi (c), Ippei Okada, Bernard Foley, Haruto Kida, Yuya Hirose, Rikus Pretorius, Koga Nezuka, Shaun Stevenson

Replacements: Rikuto Fukuda, Kazuki Kato, Opeti Helu, David Van Zeeland, Lappies Labuschagné, Bryn Hall, Atsushi Oshikawa, Halatoa Vailea