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All Blacks star Ardie Savea signs with Jay-Z's sports agency
By Alex McLeod
All Blacks star Ardie Savea has signed with legendary rapper Jay-Z's sports talent management agency Roc Nation Sports.
A sub-division of Roc Nation, the entertainment company founded by Jay-Z in 2008, Roc Nation Sports was established in 2013 and supports athletes in the same way in which Roc Nation has advocated for entertainers over the past 13 years.
News of Roc Nation Sports' acquisition of Savea comes after it was confirmed last week that the 28-year-old loose forward had re-signed with New Zealand Rugby through until 2025.
In a press release, Roc Nation Sports said it "will manage Savea’s career both on and off the field with a focus on his brand, off-field entrepreneurial projects and philanthropy".
“My family and I are so excited to be joining Roc Nation," Savea said in a statement upon confirmation of his signing with the agency on Tuesday.
"Having a highly skilled team of specialists behind me looking after all aspects of my career will not only allow me to concentrate on my on- field performance but provide long term security for my family and a platform for me to pursue other areas of interest that I am really passionate about.”
By signing with Roc Nation Sports, Savea joins a high-profile stable of athletes, including fellow rugby stars such as Springboks quintet Siya Kolisi, Cheslin Kolbe, Trevor Nyakane, Sbu Nkosi and Aphelele Fassi, as well as England lock Maro Itoje.
The agency also has a variety of other athletes on its books, such as NFL stars Todd Gurley and Saquon Barkley, NBA stars LaMelo Ball and Danny Green, footballers Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, and former boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard.
Some of the entertainers signed to Roc Nation includes Alicia Keys, Big Sean, Christina Aguilera, DJ Khaled, A$AP FERG, J. Cole, Lil Uzi Vert, Meek Mill and Rihanna, among many others.
In a video released by Roc Nation, DJ Khaled welcomed Savea to the agency, which he described as "a family".
"Ardie, bless up and congratulations on all your blessings, your love and your success. Welcome to Roc Nation. We're a family over here. Congrats on more wins, more blessings, from DJ Khaled."
Kolisi, who introduced Savea to signing with Roc Nation Sports after having done so himself two years ago, also welcomed the 59-test All Black to the agency as he shared his excitement to work with his on-field rival in an off-field capacity.
“Ardie is my brother and to now be able to work with him professionally off the field, in addition to doing battle on it, is an amazing feeling," Kolisi, the 2019 World Cup-winning Springboks captain, said.
"Both of us have experienced many similar challenges throughout our career - and so to join forces with somebody so like-minded and determined to influence change makes me very excited for the future.”
Roc Nation Sports international president Michael Yormick echoed Kolisi's excitement at the acquisition of Savea's signature.
“We are super excited to welcome another elite, world-class rugby player into the Roc Nation family," Yormick said.
"Not only is Ardie an extraordinary rugby player, but his personality and off-field goals and objectives mirror perfectly what our company stands for and the voice we want to have in the rugby community.
"There is no doubt that bringing Ardie into our family brings us a step closer to changing the game. ”
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