Mateship matters for Savea

It’s not the rugby Julian Savea looks back on most fondly.

At the comparatively tender age of 26, the wing will play his 100th Super Rugby match for the Hurricanes tomorrow. He’s just the 10th Hurricane to reach the milestone and certainly one of the more popular.

There’s few finer sights in the game than Savea in full flight, but it’s not the bullocking runs down the left flank or 45 tries that stir his emotions.

‘‘For me, it’s playing each week [which is the fun part of being a Hurricane],’’ Savea said ahead of the clash with the Chiefs at Westpac Stadium.

‘‘But the most [enjoyable] part is the off-field stuff [such as] when we go for lunches and we play basketball; all that sort of stuff. That means more than anything.

‘‘You know, rugby’s rugby, but you make mates forever.’’

The Hurricanes put a lot of work into honouring their own these days. Honours boards adorn several walls at their training base, presenting the current players with a vivid illustration of those who built the franchise up from nothing.

Pride of place belongs to the huge portraits of the team’s 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup winners and their centurions.

Savea joins Tana Umaga, Rodney So’oialo, Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, Jeremy Thrush, Ma’a Nonu, Victor Vito, Conrad Smith and Cory Jane in the exclusive 100-game club, even if modesty prevents him from saying that he belongs in their company.

‘‘I honestly don’t think I do. It’s been six or seven years, it’s been special and a lot of those boys I’ve played with them and they’ve helped me along my journey as well,’’ said Savea.

None more so than Nonu who simply by treading the same path through Rongotai College, the Oriental-rongotai club and Wellington - provided a young Savea with something to aspire to.

‘‘It’s a massive step for me and my family and I can’t stress enough how thankful I am for my school and the club for all their help,’’ Savea said.

He was also grateful to Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd for ensuring the milestone was marked at home, rather than picking him to play in Perth last week. For his part, Boyd believed the star wing was more than entitled to celebrate in front of his fans and family.

‘‘He’ll certainly have a sphere of influence through Rongotai College and through the ‘Miramar-fia’, down in the eastern suburbs there. The Savea name is prominent down there and Julian’s a big part of that,’’ Boyd said.