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Former All Blacks and Hurricanes winger Julian Savea will return to Super Rugby in 2021.
Savea, who last played for the All Blacks in 2017 and scored 46 attempts in 54 tests, has re-signed with the Hurricanes after returning home after a nonchalant two-year stint in French rugby with Toulon.
The 30-year-old is playing for Wellington in the 10 Miter Cup and has won another Super Rugby contract after being called up to the Hurricanes as a replacement player in August.
Martin Hunter / Getty Images
Julian Savea scored a try in his last appearance with the Hurricanes in 2018.
Last Saturday, Savea scored the match-winning try for Wellington against North Harbor in the capital, beating Bryn Gatland with a signature finish for a vital 25-20 victory in the Premiership semi-final race.
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Savea scored 52 attempts in 121 games for the Hurricanes before moving to France. His last Super Rugby appearance was in his 30-12 semi-final loss to the Crusaders in July 2018.
Hagen Hopkins / Getty Images
Julian Savea, pictured scoring for Wellington last weekend, will return to Super Rugby with the Hurricanes.
“Being one of the most limited and coming back is incredible, but it gives me the experience to understand that I have to earn my place, wherever I am,” Savea said in a statement on Friday.
“Adding to the statistics is not my priority, rather it is playing the best rugby I can and putting myself in a great position where I can help the team and get the best of myself.”
“I am excited and grateful to have another opportunity to wear yellow again and play with my brothers.
Hannah Peters / Getty Images
Julian Savea congratulating his younger brother Ardie after the All Blacks dropped the Wallabies last Sunday.
“My ambition for 2021 is to make sure I fully prepare myself by conditioning my body and mind, so that I can not only make my family proud, but also my teammates. If I do that, the rest will take care of itself. “
Hurricanes coach Jason Holland said it was extraordinary to have Savea’s experience back at the team, which won a Rugby World Cup with the All Blacks in the UK in 2015.
“Physically, Julian is in very good shape and we know what a threat he can be,” Holland said in a statement.
“He is in a great place mentally and will add volumes to our environment on and off the field.”
Savea will reunite with his younger brother, All Blacks forward Ardie Savea, who last played together in Super Rugby in 2018.
The brothers lined up for Wellington together in the opening rounds of the 10 Miter Cup in September.
Savea will speak to the media at Rugby League Park in Wellington at 12:15 pm on Friday.
