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Bundee Aki

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Bundee Aki
Aki representing Connacht during the 2022–23 EPCR Challenge Cup
Full nameFua Leiofi Bundellu Aki
Date of birth (1990-04-07) 7 April 1990 (age 34)
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Weight102 kg (225 lb; 16 st 1 lb)[1]
SchoolManurewa High School
UniversityAthlone Institute of Technology
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Current team Connacht
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2014 Counties Manukau 43 (50)
2013–2014 Chiefs 25 (50)
2014– Connacht 132 (140)
Correct as of 25 February 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017– Ireland 58 (80)
2021 British & Irish Lions 1 (0)
Correct as of 8 November 2024[2][3]

Fua Leiofi Bundellu Aki (born 7 April 1990) is a New Zealand-born Irish professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for United Rugby Championship club Connacht.[4] Born in New Zealand, he represents Ireland at international level after qualifying on residency grounds.[5] He became an Irish citizen in 2024, and maintains dual citizenship. He has one cap for the British and Irish Lions.

Early life

[edit]

Of Samoan descent,[6] Aki was born in the Auckland suburb of Ōtāhuhu,[7] to Hercules and Sautia Aki.[8] He was named Fua Leiofi, but was called Bundellu after the doctor who delivered him. The nickname "Bundee" was given to him by a rugby coach at under-age level.[9] Bundee is the second eldest of six children, with one brother and four sisters.[10]

Aki grew up in Manurewa, a suburb in South Auckland, and attended Manurewa High School,[11] where he played for the school's First XV rugby team. He took a year out from a professional rugby career in 2011, when he worked as a bank teller.[12]

Personal life

[edit]

Aki grew up and went to school with former Chiefs teammate Tim Nanai-Williams.[11]

Aki has four children and frequently highlights the importance his family has to him.[13] Aki lives in Oranmore, a suburb of Galway city.[14]

On 16 September 2024, Aki was granted Irish citizenship.[15]

Club career

[edit]

Malaysia

[edit]

Aki played for the Borneo Eagles based in Sabah, East Malaysia Year.[16]

Counties Manukau

[edit]

Aki began playing for Counties Manukau in the 2011 season. He made nine appearances for the side with five of these coming as starts, scoring three tries as they finished fourth in the Championship Division of the 2011 ITM Cup.[17] In the 2012 ITM Cup, he played 11 of the team's 12 games, starting on each occasion and scoring six tries.[17] Counties Manukau finished top of the Championship Division and won their play-off games against Southland and Otago, which earned the side promotion to the following year's Premiership Division.[18]

With Counties promoted to the Premiership Division, he played in all ten of their regular season games in the 2013 ITM Cup, starting eight of these, as the team qualified for the play-offs on their return to the top flight.[17] He also started in the team's play-off semi-final, a 41–10 defeat to Wellington.[19] Aki scored one try during the course of the season, with the score coming against Tasman in a 20–40 defeat.[20]

2014 was Aki's final season with Counties, as it had been announced earlier in the year that he would be leaving New Zealand to join Irish side Connacht. He started all ten games as Counties finished fifth, two points outside the playoff places, in the 2014 ITM Cup, but did not score any points.[17] Aki's final appearance for Counties Manukau came in the team's 41–18 victory over Auckland on 8 October 2014.[21]

Chiefs

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In September 2012, it was announced that Aki had signed for reigning Super Rugby champions the Chiefs, having been part of the side's development set up previously.[22] Aki came into the team for the 2013 Super Rugby season. He played in 13 of the side's 18 regular season games, starting 12 of these and scoring five tries, as Chiefs finished top of the table.[17] Aki also featured for the team in the play-offs coming off the bench after 48 minutes against Crusaders in the semi-final, and after 46 minutes in the final against the Brumbies as Chiefs won their second title in a row.[23][24]

Aki played ten times for Chiefs in the regular season of the 2014 season, starting seven of these matches and scoring three tries.[17] Chiefs finished sixth in the final standings of the league season, the final qualifying spot for the competition's play-off rounds. Aki started in the Chiefs' quarter-final game against the Brumbies, a replay of the previous year's final. Aki scored his fourth try of the season, but finished on the losing side as the Brumbies won the game by 32–30.[25] This was Aki's final game for the Chiefs, as it had been announced earlier in the year that he would be moving to Irish side, Connacht.[26]

Connacht

[edit]
Aki before Connacht's 2022–23 Challenge Cup match against Benetton Rugby

Aki signed for Connacht in April 2014 and moved to Ireland ahead of the 2014–15 season. This move made him the second Chiefs player in as many years to join Connacht, following the transfer of captain Craig Clarke the previous season.[26][27] He quickly became a key part of Connacht's setup, starting whenever fit and excelling on the pitch.[28]

On 25 October 2016, Aki signed a new contract to remain at Connacht until 2020. He became eligible to play for Ireland after completing three years of residence in the country in October 2017.[29]

In November 2019, he signed a fresh three-year extension to his central contract, to keep him with Connacht until the summer of 2023 at least, the first Connacht player to sign a central deal with the union.[28] After signing, he declared: "I am truly grateful for the opportunity I have been given to represent both Connacht and Irish and am delighted to extend my IRFU contract".[30] His decision to extend his contract came after much media speculation about what his future may hold after a disappointing 2019 Rugby World Cup.[31]

In October 2023, following Ireland's exit from the Rugby World Cup and Aki's nomination for World Player Of The Year, the IRFU announced Aki had extended his central contract, keeping him at Connacht to 2025.[32]

International career

[edit]

Ireland call-up

[edit]

Aki was qualified to play for New Zealand, where he was born and raised, and Samoa, the country of origin of his parents. However, after completing a three-year residency period, he became eligible to represent Ireland on the international stage.

On 26 October 2017, Aki was named in the extended Ireland squad for the Autumn internationals.[33] His inclusion came at a time when a growing number of players were qualifying to play for a foreign nation based on the three-year residency rule, which sparked a huge debate about eligibility rules in rugby union.[34][35][36][37]

Parts of the media stated that he had no real connection with Ireland, was getting in the way of Irish talent going through the ranks, and questioned loyalty issues should Aki decide to move abroad after his contract was over thus ending his international career.[38] His selection was criticised by some former internationals, including Neil Francis[39] and Luke Fitzgerald, who was generally critical of the residency rule,[40][41] but supported by others including Alan Quinlan[38] Simon Easterby,[42] and Chris Farrell.[41] Other rugby figures, including Conor Murray, and former Ireland head coach Eddie O'Sullivan, whilst critical of the residency rule, felt it was unfair individual players such as Aki to be singled out for criticism.[43][44] Aki acknowledged the criticism, admitting that a big part of his motivation to move to Ireland was to play international rugby, and noted that he hoped that he could do the country proud with his on-field performance.[45][46]

Ireland career

[edit]
Aki makes a break during 2023 Six Nations match

Aki made his debut for Ireland in the 38–3 win against South Africa at the Aviva Stadium on 11 November 2017, playing the full 80 minutes.[47] Two weeks later he played against Argentina, again featuring for the entire match in a 28–19 win.[48]

In the 2018 Six Nations, Aki was the only centre to feature in every game for Ireland as they won the Grand Slam. Injuries to centre partners Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw and Chris Farrell meant that Aki started every match and was only replaced in the final game against England due to injury.[49] He was also part of the team's end-of season tour of Australia, which saw Ireland win a test series against Australia for the first time since 1979.[50]

Aki continued to be a regular starter for Ireland in the 2018–19 season. On 17 November 2018, he started against his native New Zealand in a 16–9 win. This was Ireland's first victory over the All Blacks on home soil.[51] Aki also featured in all five of Ireland's games in the 2019 Six Nations, as they finished third in a disappointing defence of their Grand Slam title.[52]

In September 2019, Aki was named in the Irish squad for the upcoming World Cup in Japan.[53] He started Ireland's opening game against Scotland, but was removed after only 20 minutes in the 27–3 win due to a head injury. This injury caused him to miss the next game against hosts Japan,[54] which ended in a shock 19–12 defeat to leave Ireland in danger of elimination.[55] Aki returned to the starting lineup for the following game against Russia,[56] and also started the final pool match against over Samoa but was sent off in the 29th minute of the 47–5 win.[57] The red card resulted in a three-game suspension, ruling Aki out of the remainder of the tournament.[58] Ireland were eliminated in the next round, as New Zealand ran out 46–14 victors in the quarter-finals.[59]

Aki was banned for four games after receiving a red card for a high tackle on Billy Vunipola in Ireland's 32–18 win against England in the 2021 Six Nations Championship on 20 March.[60]

He was called up to be part of the Irish squad for the 2023 Six Nations, which Ireland went on to win their fourth Grand Slam.[61] In August 2023, he was selected to be in Ireland's World Cup squad ahead of the 2023 World Cup in France.[62] He was one of four players nominated for Player of the Tournament following the completion of the World Cup. In January 2024, Aki was named the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Men’s Players of The Year.[63]

The Ireland squad for the 2024 Six Nations were announced in January, with Bundee being included.[64] He received significant praise from the Evening Standard for his performances against Wales in a 31–7 victory for Ireland on 24 February.[65]

British & Irish Lions

[edit]

On 6 May 2021, Aki was named in the squad for the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa.[66] He made his test debut on 7 August 2021 in the final test. South Africa won the final test 19–16 and the series by two games to one.[67]

Career statistics

[edit]

List of international tries

[edit]
Number Position Points Tries Result Opposition Venue Date Ref.
1 Centre 5 1 Won Italy Aviva Stadium 10 February 2018 [68]
2 Centre 5 1 Won Wales Aviva Stadium 24 February 2018 [69]
3 Centre 5 1 Won Argentina Aviva Stadium 10 November 2018 [70]
4 Centre 5 1 Lost England Twickenham Stadium 24 August 2019 [71]
5 Centre 5 1 Won Italy Aviva Stadium 24 October 2020 [72]
6 Centre 5 1 Won Japan Aviva Stadium 6 November 2021 [73]
7 Centre 5 1 Won Wales Aviva Stadium 5 February 2022 [74]
8 Centre 5 1 Lost New Zealand Eden Park 2 July 2022 [75]
9 Centre 5 1 Won Australia Aviva Stadium 19 November 2022 [76]
10 Centre 5 1 Won Italy Stadio Olimpico 25 February 2023 [77]
11 Centre 5 1 Won England Aviva Stadium 19 August 2023 [78]
12–13 Centre 10 2 Won Romania Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux 9 September 2023 [79]
14–15 Centre 10 2 Won Tonga Stade de la Beaujoire 16 September 2023 [80]
16 Centre 5 1 Lost New Zealand Stade de France 14 October 2023 [81]

as of 15 October 2023[82]

Honours

[edit]
Chiefs
Connacht
Ireland
Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Connacht Rugby | Bundee Aki". Connacht Rugby. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Bundee Aki". Irish Rugby. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  3. ^ "LIONS V JAPAN UPDATE". Lions Rugby. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  4. ^ "'There's not a bad word I could speak about Ireland': Rugby star Bundee Aki gains Irish citizenship". The Irish Times. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Bundee Aki Reveals His Real Name & Why Everyone Calls Him Bundee". RugbyLAD.com. 22 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017. When my mum was giving birth to me, the doctor was called Bundellu, and asked if he could name me after him. My mum being a nice person, said yes. So I was named after him! So everybody at primary school called me Bundaloo.
  6. ^ "Who is Bundee Aki: Ten things you should know about the Ireland centre". Rugby World. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Player Profiles: Bundee Aki". Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  8. ^ "I get a call every Monday from the old man and mum, trying to tweak my game". The42. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  9. ^ "Bundee Aki Reveals His Real Name & Why Everyone Calls Him Bundee". RugbyLAD. 22 September 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Bundee Aki prepared for his biggest challenge yet". The Irish Times. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Manurewa Chiefs: Tim Nanai Williams and Bundee Aki". 5 March 2014 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ "Rugby: Bundee looks to fit the bill". The New Zealand Herald. 20 January 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
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  14. ^ "Bundee Aki: 'I don't know if I'd get the same treatment somewhere else'". Irish Times. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  15. ^ O'Brien, Carla (16 September 2024). "Aki among 3,600 new Irish citizens after ceremonies". RTÉ. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
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  17. ^ a b c d e f "Player statistics – club stats: Bundee Aki". Itsrugby. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
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  38. ^ a b Ball, Off The. ""Is this not a slap in the face for Irish Rugby?" | Bundee Aki's next move". Off The Ball. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
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  40. ^ "Bundee Aki: Critics can say what they want, I'm proud to represent Ireland". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  41. ^ a b Kinsella, Murray (16 September 2019). "'People have their own opinions' – Aki proud to represent Ireland at the World Cup". The42. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
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  56. ^ "Flat Ireland fail to ignite in bonus-point win over Russia". RTÉ Sport. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
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  64. ^ "Six Nations: Peter O'Mahony to captain Ireland for 2024 tournament as Andy Farrell names squad". Sky Sports.
  65. ^ "Ireland 31-7 Wales: Bundee Aki shines in battling Six Nations victory". Evening Standard. 24 February 2024.
  66. ^ "British and Irish Lions 2021: Sam Simmonds in 37-man squad but Billy Vunipola misses out". BBC Sport. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  67. ^ "South Africa 19–16 British and Irish Lions: Morne Steyn's late penalty wins series". BBC Sport. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
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  82. ^ "Bundee Aki". 7 February 2022.
  83. ^ "All 30 of Ireland's Grand Slam contributors rated – but one man comes out on top". Irish Independent. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  84. ^ "Bundee Aki named Ireland men's players' player of the year". Irish Times. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
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