All Black superstar turns out for local club, eats sausage sandwich and leaves money behind bar

New Zealand superstar Ardie Savea turned out for his local club, did a post-match interview eating a sausage sandwich and then left $500 behind the bar for punters.

Savea has today, June 24, been named in the All Blacks' squad for their summer series against England in the coming weeks, with former Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson now at the helm of the iconic side.

The legendary back row has been on a union-approved season-long sabbatical in Japan's Rugby League One since the end of the 2023 World Cup. He joined Kobelco Steelers on a lucrative contract but the 30-year-old is now back on home soil ahead of the summer internationals. He will return to action for club side Hurricanes next year.

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Named the men's World Rugby player of the year in 2023, Savea enjoyed a stellar tournament in the France World Cup, but his star status hasn't made him forget his roots, turning up at his local club Oriental-Rongotai for their Swindale Shield match against Wellington at Hataitai Park. Savea's side ended up beating their opponents 90-7 on the day.

"It’s nice to come down and see the kids, and eat a sausage after the game. It’s what footy is all about," he said to The Post.

"My lungs after the first 10 minutes, I didn’t know if I could handle it. It’s good though. I just wanted to get some contact in and get the body moving and the lungs going."

He was asked about whether he was hoping to be captain, but the legend cited the fact that he's been away from New Zealand, so he's was just hoping to make the team. Crusaders lock Scott Barrett was named skipper.

He also left $500 behind the bar for locals to enjoy some drinks on him.

You can watch the video below.

Savea joins fellow All Black Beauden Barrett in returning to the amateur game. Barrett played for his boyhood club Coastal last week, and helped them towards a convincing victory after coming on at half-time. You can read more about that here.

Savea did the same thing almost exactly one year ago (June 20, 2023), where he played at full-back for Oriental-Rongotai. He also did the same in 2020, when Ma'a Nonu was assistant coach.