Julian Savea on brink of historic record

Hurricanes wing Julian Savea is one try away from being the most prolific try scorer in Super Rugby Pacific history.

He will have the chance to make the record his own with the Hurricanes still to play regular season games against Moana Pasifika (home), Chiefs (away), Blues (away) and Crusaders (home), and also with the prospect of playoffs opportunities.

His two tries for the Hurricanes in their 24-27 loss to Fijian Drua at the weekend drew him level with former Waratahs fullback Israel Folau on 60 tries.

Since making his Hurricanes debut in 2011, Savea has played 150 games for the side in two stints, 2011-2018 and 2021-23, broken by time with Toulon in France. He was part of the Super Rugby championship-winning side of 2016.

Folau scored 60 tries in 96 games for the Waratahs between 2013-19 and was part of the 2014 Super Rugby championship-winning team.

Before them, the highest try scorer was Doug Howlett, who scored 59 times, 55 of his tries coming in 97 games for the Blues between 1999-2007, three in two games for the Highlanders in 1997 and one in five games for the Hurricanes in 1998.

The top 10 try scorers in Super Rugby history are:

60: Julian Savea (Hurricanes), Israel Folau (Waratahs) 
59: Doug Howlett (Highlanders, Hurricanes, Blues)
58: TJ Perenara (Hurricanes)
57: Joe Roff (Brumbies)
56: Christian Cullen (Hurricanes), Bryan Habana (Bulls, Stormers), Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies, Rebels), Ma'a Nonu (Hurricanes, Blues, Highlanders).

Savea's try-scoring potency was even greater in Test rugby as he crossed the line 46 times in 54 Tests, while Folau scored 37 tries for Australia in 73 Tests.

Howlett holds the All Blacks try-scoring record with 49 tries in his 62 Tests.