Julian Savea

Last updated

Julian Savea
Julian Savea September 2015 RWC.jpg
Savea representing New Zealand at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, September 2015
Full nameSio Julian Savea
Date of birth (1990-08-07) 7 August 1990 (age 33)
Place of birth Wellington, New Zealand
Height192 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight103 kg (227 lb; 16 st 3 lb)
School Rongotai College
Notable relative(s) Ardie Savea (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Centre
Current team Wellington, Hurricanes
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2010–2017, 2020- Wellington 62 (115)
2011–2018, 2021-2023 Hurricanes 153 (305)
2018–2020 Toulon 41 (45)
2024- Moana Pasifika ()
Correct as of 7 October 2023
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2010 New Zealand U20 4 (40)
2012–2017 New Zealand 54 (230)
2017 Barbarian F.C. 1 (0)
Correct as of 22 October 2022
National sevens team(s)
YearsTeamComps
2009 New Zealand 5
Correct as of 22 October 2022
Medal record
Men's Rugby union
Representing Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Rugby World Cup
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2015 England Squad

Sio Julian Savea (born 7 August 1990) is a New Zealand professional rugby union player. He currently plays wing for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Savea formerly played for Toulon in the Top 14 and Hurricanes in the Super Rugby, and is a former captain of the Wellington Lions in the Mitre 10 Cup. Between 2012 and 2017, he won 54 caps for New Zealand.

Contents

He has also represented New Zealand at sevens and at under-20 level. Savea is nicknamed "The Bus", [1] a moniker bestowed by under-20s coach Dave Rennie. [2] Savea was a key member of 2015 Rugby World Cup winning team, and was the highest try scorer of the tournament, with 8 tries. Savea is one of the highest try-scorers in New Zealand's history, scoring 46 through the duration of his international career.

Savea was nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year in 2014 and 2015, winning the award for Try of the Year in 2015.

Early career

Savea attended Rongotai College in Wellington, New Zealand. In 2008, Savea made the New Zealand secondary schools team and the Hurricanes academy squad. [3] In 2009, Savea debuted for the New Zealand sevens at the 2009 Adelaide Sevens. In 2010, Savea was selected for the New Zealand U-20 team to play at the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina. [4] He scored 8 tries in the tournament which New Zealand won and was named IRB Junior Player of the year. [5] Savea was rewarded for his good form by being picked in the 2010 Wellington Lions squad to play in the 2010 ITM Cup. [6] In 2010 Savea was touted as 'the next Jonah Lomu'. [7]

Domestic career

Hurricanes

In 2012, Savea played in his second season for the Hurricanes. While he had a quiet 2011 season, his 2012 form earned him a call-up into the All Blacks for the three-test series with Ireland.

Savea had a poor season in 2016 and was benched for the Hurricanes' last 3 matches of the season in the knockout rounds, with Jason Woodward, former All Black Cory Jane and James Marshall the team's preferred back three players by the end of the season. Savea was also benched for the semi-final against the Lions in Johannesburg the following year after Vince Aso returned from injury. Savea had been quiet all season, with Wes Goosen replacing him as the starting left wing for the draw to the Lions.

Savea scored 50 tries for the Hurricanes during his Super Rugby career, which ended in 2018 after his signing to Toulon. Savea played 116 games for the Hurricanes during his Super Rugby career and is one of the most-capped Super Rugby players in history. Savea played his final game for the Hurricanes during the 2018 Super Rugby season's semi-final, against the Crusaders, on 28 July when the Crusaders knocked the Hurricanes out of the competition, with the Hurricanes losing 12-30.

Wellington Lions

He marked his first-class debut in July 2010 with a length of the field runaway try that clinched an ITM Cup pre-season win for the Wellington Lions over Canterbury. He started on the right wing in 12 of 14 ITM Cup games, scoring a further eight tries including a try on championship debut against Tasman and two more the following week against Otago.[ citation needed ]

Savea was not selected for the All Blacks for the 2017 Rugby Championship, therefore played his first game for Wellington in four years on the right wing as a result. Following an injury to Brad Shields, Savea took over the team as captain until Shields returned from injury.

In summer of 2023 Savea signed with Moana Pasifika, a team competing in the Super Rugby championship.

International career

All Blacks

Savea was named in the 2012 All Black squad, his first season of international rugby. On 9 June 2012, Savea scored three tries on his debut for the All Blacks against Ireland in the first test at Eden Park. [8] [9] He is the first All Black to score three tries against Ireland in a test match,[ citation needed ] and the fourth to score three tries on his All Black test debut. Since his debut, Savea has been one of the most prolific tryscorers in international rugby.

Savea became a regular starter for the All Blacks across his first few years. In 2014, Savea was nominated for World Rugby's Player of the Year award, which was ultimately won by teammate Brodie Retallick. [9]

Savea was named in the 31-man All Black squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, where he scored 8 tries across the tournament having played in many games throughout the tournament. Savea's 8 tries saw him equal the record for most tries in a single tournament, previously achieved by the late former All Black Jonah Lomu and South Africa's Bryan Habana. Two of these games played saw Savea score hat-tricks, including a quarter-final game against France. The hat-trick Savea scored against France saw him being compared to Lomu. Savea, having been one of the best-performing players of the tournament, was again nominated for World Rugby's "Player of The Year" award [10] which was won by teammate Dan Carter, and was also the winner of "Try of The Year" for one of his tries against France in the World Cup.

Despite continuing to score tries in 2016, Savea was seriously out of form.[ citation needed ] When Waisake Naholo was injury-free he was selected over Savea as the starting left wing, with Israel Dagg on the right wing. Savea continued to start internationally due to injuries to Naholo and Nehe Milner-Skudder, the latter of whom did not play internationally all year due to a shoulder reconstruction surgery. Savea came off the bench to become the fifth New Zealander to score 40 tries in international rugby when he touched down against Australia in Sydney on 20 August 2016. Savea was the fastest to do so, as this was his 44th match. He overtook former All Black wing Joe Rokocoko's record of 40 tries from 46 tests as the All Blacks won against the Wallabies 42-8.

On 16 June 2017, Savea charged his way over the chalk against Samoa marking his 46th test try during the 78-0 win. This made Savea the second-highest try scorer of any All Black, tying with Rokocoko and former All Blacks fullback Christian Cullen.

Savea lost his starting spot in the All Blacks to rookie Blues wing Rieko Ioane for the first two tests against the British and Irish Lions in 2017, but started in the third test on 8 July 2017, for his final appearance in the black jersey, following injury to Waisake Naholo and Ioane having illness. Savea played badly, botching a potential try and being exploited on defence.[ citation needed ]

After poor performances across the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Savea was dropped from the All Blacks squad for the 2017 Rugby Championship when the team was named on his 27th birthday, with Ioane, Naholo and Hurricanes team-mate Nehe Milner-Skudder all recovering from injury and illness.

Despite numerous injuries to the All Blacks' outside backs in the 2017 season, Savea was not re-called for international rugby, with Seta Tamanivalu, David Havili and Matt Duffie preferred as injury cover for the 2017 end-of-season tour squad over Savea. This prompted Savea to play for the Barbarians Club against his former All Blacks team-mates on 5 November 2017. Savea played the full 80 minutes for the Barbarians but failed to make an impact, with Crusaders winger and Barbarians team-mate George Bridge overshadowing Savea and scoring two tries as the Barbarians lost 22-31 to the All Blacks, who featured Savea's younger brother Ardie Savea.

International tries

TryOpponentLocationVenueCompetitionDateResult
1, 2, 3IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Auckland, New Zealand Eden Park Mid-year rugby test series 9 June 2012Won
4Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina Wellington, New Zealand Westpac Stadium Rugby Championship 8 September 2012Won
5, 6Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina La Plata, Argentina Estadio Ciudad de La Plata Rugby Championship 29 September 2012Won
7, 8Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Edinburgh, Scotland Murrayfield Stadium End-of-year rugby test series 11 November 2012Won
9, 10Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Rome, Italy Stadio Olimpico End-of-year rugby test series 17 November 2012Won
11, 12Flag of England.svg  England London, England Twickenham Stadium End-of-year rugby test series 1 December 2012Lost
13Flag of France.svg  France Christchurch, New Zealand AMI Stadium Mid-year rugby test series 15 June 2013Won
14Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina Hamilton, New Zealand Waikato Stadium Rugby Championship 7 September 2013Won
15Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina La Plata, Argentina Estadio Ciudad de La Plata Rugby Championship 29 September 2013Won
16Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Dunedin, New Zealand Forsyth Barr Stadium End-of-year rugby test series 19 October 2013Won
17, 18Flag of England.svg  England London, England Twickenham Stadium End-of-year rugby test series 16 November 2013Won
19IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Dublin, Ireland Aviva Stadium End-of-year rugby test series 24 November 2013Won
20Flag of England.svg  England Dunedin, New Zealand Forsyth Barr Stadium Mid-year rugby test series 14 June 2014Won
21, 22, 23Flag of England.svg  England Hamilton, New Zealand Waikato Stadium Mid-year rugby test series 21 June 2014Won
24Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Auckland, New Zealand Eden Park Rugby Championship 23 August 2014Won
25, 26Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina Napier, New Zealand McLean Park Rugby Championship 6 September 2014Won
27Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina La Plata, Argentina Estadio Ciudad de La Plata Rugby Championship 27 September 2014Won
28, 29Flag of the United States.svg  United States Chicago, USA Soldier Field End-of-year rugby test series 2 November 2014Won
30Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium End-of-year rugby test series 23 November 2014Won
31, 32Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia London, England London Stadium 2015 Rugby World Cup 24 September 2015Won
33, 34, 35Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium 2015 Rugby World Cup 2 October 2015Won
36, 37, 38Flag of France.svg  France Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium 2015 Rugby World Cup 17 October 2015Won
39Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Auckland, New Zealand Eden Park Mid-year rugby test series 11 June 2016Won
40Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Sydney, Australia ANZ Stadium Rugby Championship 20 August 2016Won
41Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Wellington, New Zealand Westpac Stadium Rugby Championship 27 August 2016Won
42Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina Hamilton, New Zealand Waikato Stadium Rugby Championship 10 September 2016Won
43Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Christchurch, New Zealand AMI Stadium Rugby Championship 17 September 2016Won
44, 45Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Auckland, New Zealand Eden Park End-of-year rugby test series 22 October 2016Won
46Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa Auckland, New Zealand Eden Park Mid-year rugby test series 16 June 2017Won

New Zealand U20

Julian Savea was named the 2010 IRB Junior Player of the Year. He was the star of the IRB World U20 tournament, scoring eight tries in three games; he scored four tries in one match against Samoa, and two each against Wales and South Africa. Savea featured on the right wing for New Zealand in the 2010 World U20 tournament.

New Zealand Sevens

Savea debuted for the New Zealand Sevens team at the 2009 Dubai Sevens, and played in the Sevens tournaments at Hong Kong, Adelaide, London and Scotland.

Honours

Team

Hurricanes

New Zealand

Individual

IRB Player of the Year - Nominee - 2014, 2015

Personal life

Savea is of Samoan descent. [11] His younger brother Ardie is also a Hurricanes and All Blacks player. [12]

In April 2013 Savea was charged over a domestic violence incident involving his partner. [13] The charges were later withdrawn after Savea completed police diversion. [14] Savea had previously appeared on posters for an anti-domestic violence campaign, 'It's Not OK'. [15]

In December 2015, Savea married his girlfriend of 3 years, Fatima. [16] [17] The couple announced via Instagram that they were expecting their first child in December 2017. Their daughter, Jude Telesia Savea was born on 7 December 2017.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonah Lomu</span> New Zealand rugby union player (1975–2015)

Jonah Tali Lomu was a New Zealand professional rugby union player. Lomu is considered to have been the first true global superstar of rugby, and consequently had a huge impact on the game. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential players in the history of the sport, and as one of the most talented sportsmen ever.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tana Umaga</span> New Zealand rugby player (born 1973)

Jonathan Ionatana Falefasa Umaga is a New Zealand former rugby union footballer and former captain of the national team, the All Blacks. He is head coach of Moana Pasifika in the Super Rugby competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryan Habana</span> Rugby player

Bryan Gary Habana OIS is a South African former professional rugby union player. Playing mainly as a wing, he is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He played for the Golden Lions, the Blue Bulls and Western Province in South Africa, for the Bulls and the Stormers in Super Rugby, and for Toulon in the French Top 14, and won 124 caps for the South Africa national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ma'a Nonu</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Ma'a Allan Nonu is a professional rugby union player from New Zealand who currently plays for the San Diego Legion in Major League Rugby (MLR). He plays in the inside centre, but can also cover outside centre and wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Israel Dagg</span> New Zealand rugby player (1988-2023)

Israel Jamahl Akuhata Dagg is a former New Zealand rugby union player who played for the Crusaders in Super Rugby. He has also played for the New Zealand Sevens team, and represents Hawkes Bay in the ITM Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kieran Read</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Kieran James Read is a New Zealand former rugby union player. He played as a number 8 and is a former captain of the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Smith (rugby union)</span> New Zealand rugby union player, born 1986

Benjamin Robert Smith is a retired New Zealand rugby union player, currently working for Super Rugby side Highlanders' management team. He formerly played for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition, Otago in the ITM Cup, Pau in the Top 14 and Kobelco Steelers in the Japan Rugby League One.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Cruden</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Aaron Wiremu Cruden is a New Zealand rugby union player, who plays for Waikato and formerly Montpellier, Manawatu and New Zealand internationally. Cruden's usual position is fly-half.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beauden Barrett</span> New Zealand rugby union player (born 1991)

Beauden John Barrett is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a Fly half for Japan Rugby League One club Toyota Verblitz and for the New Zealand national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TJ Perenara</span> New Zealand international rugby union footballer

Thomas Tekanapu Rawakata Perenara, commonly known as TJ Perenara, is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays Halfback or First Five-Eighth for Wellington in the Bunnings NPC, the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and New Zealand's national team, the All Blacks. He was part of the New Zealand under 20 rugby team that won the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship in Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Cane</span> Rugby player

Samuel Jordan Cane is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for Japan Rugby League One club Tokyo Sungoliath and is the former captain of the New Zealand national team.

Luke Charles Whitelock is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a loose forward for Section Paloise (Pau) in France's Top 14 rugby competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dane Coles</span> Rugby player

Dane Stuart Coles is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Japan Rugby League One club Kubota Spears and previously for the New Zealand national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ardie Savea</span> Rugby player

Ardie Suemalo Savea is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a flanker or number 8 for Wellington in the Bunnings NPC, Hurricanes in Super Rugby and international rugby for the New Zealand All Blacks. Savea was a member of New Zealand's 2019 Rugby World Cup squad and 2023 Rugby World Cup squad. He was named the 2023 World Rugby Player of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waisake Naholo</span> Rugby player

Waisake Ratunideuba Naholo is a New Zealand rugby union player. He previously played for the All Blacks Sevens and on the wing position for London Irish. In May 2022 he signed with Rugby New York, who play in the Major League Rugby competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blade Thomson</span> New Zealand rugby player (born 1990)

Blade Neville Thomson is a former professional rugby union player who played as a lock or loose forward. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, he represented Scotland in international rugby, being eligible for the national team through his paternal grandfather, Robert, who was from Wishaw. He played for Taranaki in the ITM Cup and for the Super Rugby franchise the Hurricanes, and spent the last five years of his career playing in Wales for the Scarlets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nehe Milner-Skudder</span> Rugby player

Nehe Rihara Milner-Skudder is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays for the Rugby New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richie Mo'unga</span> Rugby player

Richie Mo'unga is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a first five-eighth for Japan Rugby League One club Toshiba Brave Lupus and the New Zealand national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordie Barrett</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Jordan Matthew Barrett is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a utility back internationally for New Zealand's All Blacks, and for the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby competition. Having previously been an apprentice for the All Black squad in 2016, Barrett was first selected for New Zealand in 2017, making his debut against Samoa in a warm-up test prior to the British & Irish Lions series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rieko Ioane</span> New Zealander rugby union player

Rieko Edward Ioane is a New Zealand professional rugby union footballer who plays as a wing or as a centre for New Zealand team Blues in Super Rugby and the New Zealand national team. In his youth career, he was selected to play in the 2014 and 2015 Sevens World Series for New Zealand and took part in Auckland Grammar School first XV, the top representative team in secondary school.

References

  1. ↑ "What's in a name? Physicist proves Savea may actually hit like a bus". ESPN. 23 October 2015.
  2. ↑ Kayes, Jim (9 June 2012). "Sensational Savea worth persisting with". 3 News. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "Rongotai star raring to go". Dominion Post . stuff.co.nz. 5 May 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  4. ↑ "Ngatai, Savea headline NZ U-20 team". Rugby Heaven. Fairfax. NZPA. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  5. ↑ International Rugby Board Archived 25 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine . IRB. Retrieved on 23 December 2010.
  6. ↑ Millmow, Jonathan (21 July 2010). "So'oialo the captain but who'll be coach?". Dominion Post. Fairfax. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  7. ↑ Beynon, Huw (28 May 2010). "Lomu-like Savea to spearhead NZ under-20s". MediaWorks. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  8. ↑ Hinton, Mark (9 June 2012). "Savea stars in All Black romp against Ireland". Rugby Heaven. Fairfax. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  9. 1 2 Robson, Toby (11 June 2012). "Young guns at home in All Blacks side". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  10. ↑ "Two All Blacks nominated for world player of the year". The New Zealand Herald . 31 October 2015.
  11. ↑ Robson, Toby (6 June 2012). "Julian Savea's struggles have been his making". Rugby Heaven. Fairfax. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  12. ↑ "Savea Signs Super Rugby" (Press release). Hurricanes. 25 November 2012. Archived from the original on 6 February 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  13. ↑ "Tearful Savea apologises". 3 News NZ. 21 April 2013. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  14. ↑ "Julian Savea's assault charge withdrawn". The Dominion Post. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "Savea bailed over domestic violence". 3 News NZ. 22 April 2013. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  16. ↑ "Savea makes it 'officially official'". Stuff. Retrieved 6 November 2016. after having an Islamic wedding ceremony back in August.
  17. ↑ "Inside the private life of Julian Savea". The New Zealand Herald . 6 November 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.