Ardie Savea Crowned Super Rugby Pacific's Best

Ardie Savea makes history as the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year, capping off an incredible season with Moana Pasifika.

Ardie Savea has been crowned the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year with two rounds of the competition left to play. The 31-year-old Moana Pasifika captain secured the award after accumulating 42 votes, an unassailable lead over his nearest competitors, Tom Hooper with 31 votes and Damian McKenzie with 28 votes.

Savea's impressive performance for Moana Pasifika has seen him score five tries, make over 350 post-contact meters, complete 110 tackles, and win 15 turnovers in just 10 appearances this season. His dominant displays have earned him recognition from fellow players and coaches, who vote on the award each week.

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐩 ❤️‍🔥

Ardie 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 🥇 pic.twitter.com/CiQQU0zGBR

— Moana Pasifika Rugby (@MoanaPasifika_) May 18, 2025

The Super Rugby Pacific CEO, Jack Mesley, praised Savea's achievement, saying, “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.” Savea will receive his Player of the Year medal at Moana Pasifika's final regular season game against the Hurricanes on May 31.

Ardie Savea delivered an extraordinary performance, leading Moana Pasifika to their first-ever win over the Auckland Blues with a 27-21 victory. The All Blacks loose forward dominated on both sides of the ball, capping off his masterclass with a crucial turnover under his own posts to seal the win. This impressive display has been hailed as one of the greatest individual performances in Super Rugby history, with some comparing it to the best in 30 years.

Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga expressed his astonishment at Savea's abilities, saying, “It just astounds me, sometimes I don't know if anyone can get any better, but he keeps doing it.” Savea's exceptional play has earned widespread praise, solidifying his reputation as one of the world's top rugby players. His leadership and skill have propelled Moana Pasifika into the top six standings, securing a playoff spot and making a strong case for his team.

Ardie Savea was named the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year with two rounds left to play. Savea's coach praised him, saying: “It's just amazing what he puts himself through, how he prepares and how much it means to him. To learn the skills of someone who's playing the best rugby that anyone's ever seen ... is the best way for our boys to learn.” Savea joined Moana Pasifika last year to help develop the team, which aims to advance Pacific island and Pasifika diaspora players' careers.

“I don't know if you guys have been in that position when you wholeheartedly believe in something, you've given your all, that's me right now,” Savea, who won the World Player of the Year award in 2023, said on Saturday.

“For me, it's more than a game and when it's more than a game to me, I'll run through brick walls for them. Every week, that's my mindset for this team.”

Blues coach Vern Cotter praised Savea's performance, saying: “He was on fire, wasn't he? He inspires them. He's inspirational just with his actions.” Savea's peers and coaches awarded him maximum points, giving him an 11-point lead in the Player of the Year standings over Tom Hooper of the ACT Brumbies.

“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,” Jack Mesley, chief executive of Super Rugby Pacific, said in a press release.

“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.”