All Black superstar Ardie Savea named Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year

His team, Moana Pasifika, are celebrating a Super Rugby Pacific first this weekend, having one of their own win the 11-team tournament's Player of the Year award.

The Pacific Islands franchise is enjoying a significant improvement in its fourth Super Rugby season. The start-up team finished 12th and last in its first two campaigns in 2022 and 2023 after just two and one wins, respectively. Last year, it jumped one place in the ladder, finishing in 11th place with four wins.

However, the arrival of All Blacks star Savea, the 2023 World Rugby Player of the Year, has considerably lifted Moana's capabilities. Saturday's 27-21 win in Auckland over the Blues, the defending champions from 2024, was their sixth victory in 12 matches and it lifted them into the sixth and final play-off place with two rounds of fixtures remaining.

The weekend then ended with Super Rugby officials confirming that Savea, in his first season at Moana, had now secured the tournament's Player of the Year award even though there is still plenty of action to happen.

A statement read: "Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea has claimed the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific player of the year title after establishing an unassailable lead in voting with two weeks left in the regular season.

"The 31-year-old collected the maximum six votes against the Blues in round 14, and 42 votes across the season so far, putting him beyond the reach of Tom Hooper (31 votes) and Damian McKenzie (28 votes) a fortnight out from the finals series.

"Savea has been an imposing force for Moana Pasifika on both sides of the ball in his 10 appearances this season, scoring five tries, making over 350 post-contact metres, completing 110 tackles and winning 15 turnovers.

"His impact has also been reflected in Super Rugby Pacific Fantasy, with Savea the highest-scoring loose forward in the game and for six weeks of the competition, the most picked player. Moana Pasifika currently occupy sixth position on the competition ladder, needing one more win to lock in their first-ever finals appearance.

"Savea will be formally presented the player of the year medal at Moana Pasifika's final regular season game against the Hurricanes at Sky Stadium on Saturday, May 31."

Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley said: "Ardie's passionate leadership and dominant performances for Moana Pasifika this year have made an indelible mark on his teammates, his opponents and our competition as a whole. "He has received votes from the opposition in almost every game he has played this season, which reflects the consistency of his output and influence on his team.

"Being a peer-voted award, the Super Rugby Pacific player of the year, where our players are recognised on a weekly basis by their fellow players and coaches, gives it the greatest possible significance. We are delighted that Ardie Savea is the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific player of the year."

Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year ladder (post-round 14)

Ardie Savea - 42

Tom Hooper - 31

Damian McKenzie - 28

Carlo Tizzano - 27

Timoci Tavatavanawai - 26

Langi Gleeson - 26

Fraser McReight - 26

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