Ardie Savea, widely regarded as one of the best forwards in world rugby, has found himself at the centre of a storm after making a throat-slitting gesture during a Super Rugby match. The incident occurred when the Hurricanes faced the Melbourne Rebels, with Savea reacting to a clash involving his brother Julian and Rebels lock Josh Canham.
The controversy began when Canham and Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles scuffled, leading to Julian Savea receiving a yellow card. Rebels scrum-half Ryan Louwrens then clapped in front of Ardie Savea as he was sent off, prompting the All Blacks star to point at Louwrens and draw his thumb across his throat. The gesture was picked up by microphones, with a player heard shouting: 'He's threatening to f*****g kill him, he's threatening to kill him.'
Former Australia international Justin Harrison criticised Savea's actions during the half-time broadcast, saying he had never seen such a gesture in a game. Savea, 30, has built a reputation as one of rugby's elite players, winning 79 caps for New Zealand and scoring 23 tries. He helped the Hurricanes win the Super Rugby title in 2016 and has been a key figure for the All Blacks in seven Rugby Championship triumphs.
Savea's journey to the top began in Wellington, where he grew up with his older brother Julian, also an All Black. Their Samoan father worked overnight in a bakery to support the family. Savea has spoken about their humble beginnings, saying they could not afford pay TV or match tickets, so his father would take them to the local TAB to watch games. Despite financial struggles, he emphasised they were 'rich in love.'
Savea made his professional debut for Wellington in the National Provincial Championship and joined the Hurricanes in 2015. His explosive carrying, offloading, and defensive skills quickly marked him as a standout. He made his All Blacks debut against Wales in 2016 and has since become a pivotal player for the side. The throat-slash incident has sparked debate, but Savea remains one of the most respected forwards in the sport.
