'Always wanted to be a coach': Former All Blacks star makes career switch
Former All Blacks winger Julian Savea appears to have brought the curtain down on his professional rugby career after being appointed head coach of North Harbour premier club Mahurangi.
The 35-year-old will take over after Wellington’s NPC campaign in October, with the move effectively ruling out a return to Super Rugby in 2027.
Savea was part of Moana Pasifika’s Super Rugby squad this year, although injuries limited him to just six minutes on the field, and with the franchise placed into liquidation, it helped make the decision easier to switch to coaching.
Savea told Mahurangi Matters he’s looking forward to the challenge of coaching.
“I’m just stepping out of my comfort zone,” Savea said. “I’ve always wanted to be a coach.
“I feel like I’ve got so much to give and a philosophy that I would love to try, to express through a team that I have control of, but also making sure that we don’t lose the core values of the club.”
The club is based in Warkworth, north of Auckland, and finished eighth this year with two wins.
Savea landed the role through his connection with former Moana Pasifika team manager Peter White.
White, whose grandchildren play for Mahurangi, recently moved to the area and knew the All Blacks legend was eager to begin the next chapter of his rugby career.
Savea then met club chairman Patrick Sullivan, and it didn’t take long for an agreement to be reached.
White said Savea has all the skills to excel as a coach.
“He has a clarity in the way he thinks and expresses the game to the leadership group,” White said.
“He was very important to our coaching staff, helping analyse our plays and structures and the opposition’s as well.”
Savea played more than 170 Super Rugby games for the Hurricanes and Moana Pasifika, scoring 64 tries.
During his time with the All Blacks between 2012 and 2017, he scored 45 tries in 54 tests and was part of the 2015 World Cup winning side.
Meanwhile, his younger brother and current All Blacks captain Ardie Savea will miss the opening three matches of their tour of South Africa, which starts next weekend.
He won’t play against the Stormers, Sharks or Bulls, but coach Dave Rennie said Savea will be ready to play the first test against the Springboks at Ellis Park on August 23.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.
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