Ardie Savea could be headed for Leinster in a move that would shake both hemispheres, after reports in New Zealand said the All Blacks star is weighing his future amid growing unrest inside the national setup.

The New Zealand Herald reported that Savea is exploring options to remain in Japan with Kobelco Kobe Steelers beyond this season or to move to Europe for the first time in his career, with Leinster identified as the leading contender. 

Multiple sources told the newspaper that the 108-cap backrow is in active discussions as he considers a break from New Zealand Rugby.

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Savea is contracted to NZ Rugby through to 2027 and is due to return after the Japan Rugby League One season ends in June, as he did after the 2023-2024 campaign. 

The current plan has him rejoining Moana Pasifika for the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season ahead of the World Cup in Australia later that year. Any long-term deal in Europe would place that pathway in jeopardy and could rule him out of both competitions under New Zealand selection policy.

The timing of the speculation is no coincidence. 

It has emerged in the wake of a scathing internal review into the All Blacks environment following an unsuccessful Grand Slam tour that ended with a 33-19 defeat to England at Twickenham. 

The Herald reported that senior players delivered pointed feedback about the coaching, culture and direction of the team, placing head coach Scott Robertson and his assistant Scott Hansen under intense scrutiny.

Savea is understood to be at the center of that feedback. 

The Herald described him as seriously unhappy with the current environment after captaining the All Blacks on several occasions last year in the absence of Scott Barrett. The report said Savea has made his concerns clear to NZ Rugby chairman David Kirk and is considering his future if significant changes are not made.

He is not alone. 

According to the Herald, dissatisfaction extends beyond one player, with at least one senior Blues player declining a call up from the All Blacks XV for the final test of the year in Cardiff. The paper said frustrations have been building throughout Robertson’s two-year tenure, with the most critical feedback coming from senior figures inside the squad.

For Leinster, the possibility of landing Savea would be another statement of intent from a province that has become a regular destination for All Blacks on sabbatical. 

Jordie Barrett spent six months in Dublin last season before returning home, while Rieko Ioane is with the Irish champions on a short-term deal. Charlie Ngatai previously made the same move.

A switch from a back-line star to a forward of Savea’s caliber would make strategic sense for Leinster. 

With RG Snyman expected to move on at the end of the campaign, and Ioane also set to depart, space would be freed up within the squad. 

The unofficial IRFU guideline allows each province three non-Irish qualified players, though exceptions have been made in the past, most notably with Munster carrying four in Alex Nankivell, Jean Kleyn, Thaakir Abrahams and Michael Alaalatoa.

On the field, the impact would be enormous. 

A back row featuring Savea alongside Caelan Doris and Josh van der Flier would be among the most formidable in Europe and would only strengthen a Leinster side that is the reigning United Rugby Championship winner and perennial contender in the Investec Champions Cup.

Savea, now 32, remains one of the most influential forwards in World Rugby. 

The 2023 World Rugby Player of the Year has built a career on relentless work rate, explosive carrying and leadership that resonates through any team for which he plays. His potential departure would leave a significant void in New Zealand at a time when the All Blacks already are wrestling with questions about their identity and direction.

For now, Savea’s focus remains in Japan. 

He is set to line up for Kobe Steelers this weekend against Black Rams Tokyo, where he is likely to face former All Blacks teammate Mark Tele'a. Yet the uncertainty over his future has cast doubt over his availability for the four-test Greatest Rivalry series against South Africa later this year.

New Zealand Rugby now faces a delicate balancing act. 

Robertson’s results have not been disastrous since he took over from Ian Foster, but the internal review suggests deeper issues within the environment. Replacing a head coach less than two years out from a World Cup would be a dramatic step, though changes within the coaching group are seen as more likely. 

NZ Rugby made similar moves in 2022, when Brad Mooar and John Plumtree were replaced by Joe Schmidt and Jason Ryan during Foster’s tenure.

The difference this time is the apparent scale of the discontent. With a player of Savea’s standing openly weighing his options, the pressure on NZ Rugby to act has intensified.

Whether Leinster can turn interest into a contract remains to be seen. 

What is clear is that one of the game’s premier forwards no longer is certain his future lies in New Zealand, and that alone signals how turbulent the moment has become for the All Blacks.