Overview
- Dave Rennie named Ardie Savea captain after announcing his first squad, with the appointment covering the upcoming Nations Championship Tests against France, Italy and Ireland.
- Savea takes the role while regular skipper Scott Barrett is sidelined by injury and Rennie has left open the option for Barrett to resume the captaincy once he is fit.
- Savea said he welcomed the pressure and responsibility and framed the role as deeply meaningful for his family and the Pasifika community.
- Rennie praised Savea’s leadership-by-action approach and pointed to the new coach’s emphasis on accountability as central to the team reset ahead of the World Cup.
- The team now faces a dense run of fixtures—home Tests in July and an eight-match tour in South Africa including four Tests against the world champion Springboks—which will serve as an early measure of Rennie’s approach and squad cohesion before the 2027 World Cup.