GOOD SPORT

THE BABY
HURRICANE
WRITTEN BY ALEXANDER BISLEY | PHOTO BY ASHLEY CHURCH

Ardie Saveas massive, muscular arms are formidable. The open side flankers sitting next to me at
Hurricanes training HQ in Newtown.

e has an attention-grabbing tattoo on his left

inner arm, a beautiful Samoan woman. This is
my mother when she was young, he confides.
These hibiscus flowers, theyre my grandmothers favourite flower. His tattoos pay tribute to his family, his
father is further up his arm. These guys are the reason
why were here, me and Julz, they mean a lot to us. He
wont let these tattoos be photographed, but the one on
his neck staunchly Savea is often shot.
The other Savea Julian in the 11 jersey recently
got a hat trick for the All Blacks thumping third test
win over England. Its always good to see one of your
siblings doing well. Growing up you have that rivalry
but you grow out of that. Weve always had our rivalries
but I guess thats made us who we are now. Weve been
successful in our own ways. Julz has come a long way
and its good to have him as a bro and seeing him do really well. Im hopefully trying to follow in his footsteps.
Likeable and earthy, Ardies a major talent. He has
played in the Sevens, Junior All Blacks, and Wellington Lions and was a star of the 2013 ITM Cup, which
recommences in August.
His strength, speed, dynamism and thoroughness
augur well. I love running off the ball. I reckon its just
doing the little things right. Im focussing on quality tackles and my clean-ups around the break-down at
the moment.
Currently weighing in at 100kgs (and standing
188cms), the 20-year-old loves playing in South Africa
with the Canes. Beautiful people, beautiful places. The
players are ginormous, very physical. Thats one of my
work-ons: get physically good, bigger, so I can play the
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game at the Super level. Super level is a way different level

than ITM.
The self-described baby of the team already has
seventeen Canes caps. Hurricanes Captain Conrad
Smith says Ardie will command the yellow 7 jersey.
Great dude, big potential. Hell play a lot of games for
the Hurricanes, I think. Hes freakishly powerful and
fast for his age and size.
Masina and Lina Saveas sons passion for rugby is
intense, like their passion for their family. Ardie used to
go sleep on Friday in his rugby kit, and at least once in
his rugby boots. I think my dad over-exaggerated that,
Ardie laughs. I was always looking forward to playing.
I always chucked my uniform on. I was one of those
ones who couldnt sleep because I was so excited about
playing. Id wake up, its only two oclock in the morning, back to sleep, wake up at four oclock. Every time I
woke up Id move the curtain to see if it was raining or
not, because when its raining games are [sometimes]
cancelled; so I was hoping that wouldnt happen. Every
time the game got cancelled, urgh! Id force my Dad to
go down to the park and double check.
This was quite an effort, as the Savea family didnt
have a car as the boys grew up. We walked everywhere. We grew up over the hill in Berhampore. Our
club was in Miramar so it was two bus trips or wed
walk to Newtown and bus from Newtown to Miramar.
Everywhere we went either walked or bussed until
Julz got his first Super Rugby contract, thats when we
bought a second-hand car.
It was good for fitness. It kept us active. Even
though me and Julz always threw paddies because we

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had to walk everywhere. If games were cancelled, Ardie

threw the meanest sook. I was quite gutted.
Three years his junior, Ardie was playing under tens
while Julian played under thirteens. My game would be
earlier so Id play my game and Id quickly run over to his
game to see if they were short on numbers to try and play
for them. Sometimes I got on.
Wellingtons Eastern Suburbs have always been a special
place for the former Rongotai College head prefect. Born
and bred here. Were quite close with my grandmother and
my granddad and they lived in Kilbirnie. So we were always
there with all the family. Mums got about seven sisters and
two brothers, all with a minimum of two kids. All residing in
Miramar and Strathmore. Sundays or every Saturday we see
each other when we watch club rugby cos everyones down
there supporting. All into rugby. Uncles played rugby, cousins
playing rugby. Our familys sport based so its quite cool.
The brothers have always been into flamboyant dancing,
too. We always used to have our battles, just to entertain
the family. Quite competitive us two, we wouldnt let anyone have the last say, so it carried on. As weve been older
Jules has stuck to the dancing scene, while Ive just laid back
a little bit. I dont think hes done a celebration this year yet;
I still love to have a dance now and then.
Last year, Ardie captained the Junior All Blacks at the
Junior World Cup, under Chris Boyd, the incoming Hurricanes head coach. Obviously we didnt get the result,
not winning it, but I really think that it was a big learning
curve. It was the best experience leading the team out.
Leading the haka, drawing on its power and tradition,
was invigorating. Its always good doing the haka, especially when youre doing it for your country. Its indescribable,
but just to have all your brothers behind you actually giving
the challenge out to the other team is pretty awesome.
The Saveas are now living together in Julians Kilbirnie
home. Julz has been staying there for a while but we
moved in last year Mum, Dad and me. Julz took us in, he
laughs amiably again.
Fashion is another shared passion. The brothers are
investigating setting up a menswear line. We dont know
whether to start it or join another clothing company that
sponsors with rugby. The hardest thing is that we have no

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study qualifications in fashion. Its just something we like, so

its quite hard. We work with some of the people that are here
[Hurricanes development staff] that help us. Its a slow process,
because were so busy with rugby and stuff.
Being able to afford some sharp threads is another bonus of
a Super Rugby contract. I do like to look good when I go out.
Savea is outgoing and lively. I like to socialise with people
and stuff like that. He describes the family sense of humour
as dry. In a family television interview Ardie is seen asking
Mum, can you stop telling these embarrassing stories?
Yeah, he recalls. She knows everything. The mothers know
everything about us.
Ardie describes the current black number 7 Richie McCaw
as a a legend in the game. What hes done with the 7 jersey
has raised the bar so high. Ardie gestures voluptuously with
those big arms, raising them towards the heavens. Its a good
challenge and itll be good to try and play against.
Ardie has been mentioned as a strong shot at replacing
Richie McCaw when the time comes. Characteristically guarded
All Blacks Coach Steve Hansen cited him as huge potential
and took him as the apprentice on the 2013 end of year tour.
That was a pretty overwhelming experience. Being a
part of everything, being a part of the team and the environment was quite special; makes me want to be in there
properly. But I guess that will take time. Watching how
everything processes and what goes on to be the best in the
world, it was quite remarkable. I did everything except play
training, everything.
He must have picked up a bit from McCaw, doing that?
Mainly just learnt off him through watching him. Didnt
really get a chance to talk much. But yeah when I did talk
to him, genuine guy, a nice guy. Its pretty surreal actually,
watching him when I was little and now being next to him
having a chat.
As we finish the Canes media manager Hannah comes
over with a jersey. Can you please sign this, Ardie? Its for
Taika [Waititi], hes obsessed with you.
Ardie Savea will be playing at 7 for the
Wellington Lions through the ITM Cup.