New Zealand Rugby has retained one of its most promising stars by inking a new deal with Ardie Savea for two more seasons.
The dynamic All Blacks flanker will continue to play for the Hurricanes alongside older brother Julian Savea, the prolific Test winger who has already committed to stay through to 2019.
Touted as a future All Black since he was a teenager, 22-year-old Savea broke through with two prominent performances off the bench in his debut Test series against Wales in June.
The fan favourite scored a spectacular try in the second Test in Wellington, prompting his home crowd to chant his name.
"I'm loving my rugby right now at all levels of the game and I'm excited about the future with both the Hurricanes and, if I'm good enough to be selected again, the All Blacks," he said.
Savea made a big impression with his speed and power in his debut Hurricanes season in 2013.
That same year he was captain of the New Zealand under-20 team and was taken on the All Blacks' season-ending tour of Europe in a development role.
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said there had never been any question about Savea's raw ability.
Savea was selected in the Olympic sevens squad this year and played a handful of world series tournaments before pulling out of the squad in April to focus on Super Rugby.
