AUCKLAND — All Blacks captain Ardie Savea has reportedly signed a one-year deal with the Blues ahead of the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season, with the Auckland club set to unveil him on Friday, while the Hurricanes have secured the return of six-time champion scrum-half Bryn Hall.
According to a report by the New Zealand Herald, the Blues have been negotiating with the 32-year-old since early July, with the New Zealand Rugby component of his Super deal delaying confirmation. Savea was set to return to Moana Pasifika following his stint in Japan where he helped the Kobe Steelers clinch the Japan Rugby League One title under now All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie, but was left without a club after Moana Pasifika collapsed earlier this year. While any of the four New Zealand clubs would have moved for the experienced back-rower, the report states he was only ever going to sign for one club, with Savea and his family eager to remain in Auckland despite starting his career with the Hurricanes in Wellington.
The signing is a major coup for the Aucklanders, who will have a new head coach next season in Jason Holland, who replaces Vern Cotter after Cotter departs to fill Les Kiss' void at the Queensland Reds. Savea's arrival will offset the departures of fellow All Black Dalton Papali'i, who has left the Blues to sign for French club Castres, and Hoskins Sotutu, who has joined English side the Newcastle Red Bulls. He is set to help mentor the club's young loose forwards including Anton Segner, Malachi Wrampling, Torian Barnes and Che Clark.
The Herald also reports that Semisi Ta'eiloa, who featured in the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour matches against the Lions and Sharks, will not follow Savea to the Blues. Like the All Blacks captain, he was left without a club following Moana's demise and could sign for either the Hurricanes or Crusaders, with the Wellington and Christchurch-based sides leading the race. The Crusaders have initially offered a wider training group contract with the promise of graduating to the main squad in 2028.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes have confirmed the signing of former Blues and Crusaders scrum-half Bryn Hall for the 2027 campaign. A six-time Super Rugby winner with the Crusaders between 2017 and 2022, Hall returns to Aotearoa following a four-year spell in Japan with the Shizuoka Blue Revs and Kubota Spears, reportedly reaching into his own pocket to make the move possible. "I'm really excited to get down to Wellington to join the Hurricanes next season," Hall said. "I loved the way the club played this year with their attacking brand of footy. I can't wait to be part of that and look forward to contributing in whatever way I can."