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Ardie Savea defends Japan stint after being named All Blacks captain

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 23 Jun 2026, 5:02pm
All Black captain Ardie Savea after the team naming at the Feilding Yellow Rugby Club, Feilding, New Zealand. Photo / Mark Mitchell
All Black captain Ardie Savea after the team naming at the Feilding Yellow Rugby Club, Feilding, New Zealand. Photo / Mark Mitchell

New All Blacks captain Ardie Savea denies he's worse off from having skipped Super Rugby to play a season in Japan.

Savea returns to lead the national side for the upcoming Nations Championship tests after returning from Kobe in Japan.

Sportstalk host Elliott Smith explained further.

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