Former All Blacks wing Julian Savea has signed with the Hurricanes for the 2021 Super Rugby season.
The 30-year-old returned from France earlier in the year and was called in as a replacement player during the closing weeks of Super Rugby Aotearoa, but failed to get onto the field.
After a strong start to the Mitre 10 Cup campaign, Savea has secured a fulltime Hurricanes contract for the 2021 campaign.
"I'm excited and grateful to be given another opportunity to put on the yellow again and play with my brothers," Savea says.
"My ambition for 2021 is to make sure I prepare myself to the fullest by conditioning the body and mind, so I can not only make my family proud, but my mates also. If I do that, the rest will take care of itself."
Savea is among the most capped and highest scoring Hurricanes in franchise history - tallying 121 appearances and 52 tries.
"Being one of the most capped and coming back is awesome, but it just gives me the experience to understand that I've got to earn my spot - wherever that is," says Savea.
"Adding to the statistics isn't my priority, more so it's playing the best rugby I can and putting myself in a great position where I can help the team and bring out the best of myself."
Coach Jason Holland called it an "outstanding" signing.
"Physically, Julian is in great shape and we know what a threat he can be," says Holland. "He is in a great place mentally and will add volumes to our environment on and off the field."
