Ardie Savea eyeing NRL switch

All Blacks star Ardie Savea says he’s considering a move to the NRL as early as next year.

The 44-test Hurricanes star, who is contracted with New Zealand Rugby until the end of 2021, made the announcement during an interview with former Warrior Isaac John on the Ice Project podcast.

"100 per cent I want to play rugby league, I think they do a lot more in terms of off the field stuff... and also, just a new challenge. I want to test myself," Savea said.

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"Learning a whole new game and seeing if I can dominate or play the way I play in union, if I can do that in league, excites me. Seeing guys like Sonny [Bill Williams] do it and how that's benefited him that kind of pondered my mind."

Dual international Sonny Bill Williams returned to rugby league after winning a Super Rugby title with the Chiefs in 2012, and won his second NRL premiership with the Roosters before making a return to the XV-man game in 2015.

Savea, who bagged the World Rugby Player of the Year nomination in 2019, continued: "Strategically I would go to a team that's good...that's dominating, like the [Melbourne] Storm or the [Sydney] Roosters."