1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,040 Speaker 1: As the Super Rugby cant comes to a conclusion. This 2 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:04,200 Speaker 1: weekend we get the news that Ardie SRV is not 3 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: going to be around next year for Mawana PACIFICA because 4 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 1: he's off to Japan again on a sabbatical. Now, Debbie 5 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:11,320 Speaker 1: Sorenson's the Mawana Pacific A CEO and is with us. 6 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: Good morning, good morning to you mate. Is this a 7 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: shock or has it been coming? 8 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 2: Oh no, it's not a shock at all. It's a 9 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 2: normal part of professional players' careers. And you know, we 10 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 2: are very lucky with the gift of ardi in this 11 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 2: last season and so for him to go away for 12 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 2: a sabbatical and really you know, recharges batteries. We're looking 13 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 2: forward to him returning. 14 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:40,279 Speaker 1: Was everybody on the same page, all the players, all 15 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: the management or the organization. 16 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 2: Indeed we are. We've just had the most miraculous season 17 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:50,599 Speaker 2: this year, given that it's our fourth year running, and 18 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 2: to do so well and to beat all the major 19 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 2: New Zealand clubs has really been exciting for us. So 20 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 2: what we've seen this we've seen real potential in real 21 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:05,559 Speaker 2: hope and we know that we can make finals footy. 22 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:08,200 Speaker 1: It's just a matter of when did you say something 23 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:10,320 Speaker 1: to Ardie like what you just told me, and how 24 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 1: wonderful it's been, and wouldn't he like to hang around 25 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 1: a bit longer and you know, take it to the 26 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: next level. 27 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:19,040 Speaker 2: But I've said to Ardie is thank you for what 28 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 2: you've done for us this share and we've appreciated all 29 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 2: of that that we wish him well for next year. 30 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 2: Certainly if he changed his mind and wanted to stay, 31 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 2: we'd be delighted. But you know, I think it's a 32 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 2: big thing to support your players in their career and 33 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 2: what they need to do to you know, carry on. 34 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 2: And so this is a key part of Ardie's game, 35 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:43,399 Speaker 2: end of his career. So we wish him well next year. 36 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 2: And having that relationship with Japan is a good thing 37 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 2: for us. You know, it's good for Super Rugby Club 38 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 2: to have a relationship with Japan and that's what we're 39 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 2: able to build on with him going there this next season. 40 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: Is it unfortunate to the extent that he's made in 41 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: a team game, he's made an outside contribution, hasn't he. 42 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 1: I mean he's been brilliant. 43 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 2: He has been brilliant. And there's two things I'd say 44 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 2: about that. He has played what I would consider the 45 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 2: best rugby of his life playing for us, and a 46 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 2: lot of that is that he's just enjoyed it and 47 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 2: it's his whole authentic self. You know, he can bring 48 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 2: his whole self to the club and be who he is. 49 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 2: But what he's done is he's lifted the whole club, 50 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 2: like he's lifted the squad, who you know, understand what 51 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 2: it looks like if they can see what it looks 52 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:34,799 Speaker 2: like to be a professional plan. And also the club 53 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 2: and the fans. You know, we've had the most incredible 54 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:41,839 Speaker 2: turnout from our fans this year, and you know we're 55 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 2: filling that and all how the stadium without much of 56 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 2: a problem. So I think it might look inordinate, but 57 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 2: actually there's a lot of things that go together to 58 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 2: make it work really well. And Addie has worked quite 59 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 2: hard to make sure that he's not you know, those 60 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 2: single outla He's worked hard to bring the squad together. 61 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 2: He's done lots of mentoring of the leaders. He's just 62 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 2: been amazing. 63 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:09,400 Speaker 1: Did he has Debbie appreciate it? DeBie Sorenson, who's the 64 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: one specificate CEO. For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, 65 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: listen live to news talks that'd be from six am weekdays, 66 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio