Bundee Aki: A Deep Dive into the Career of Ireland and Lions Star on the Ireland Rugby Social
Aki discusses challenges, external perceptions, and his World Cup journey.
By Matt Gault
As one of the most prominent and esteemed rugby figures globally, Bundee Aki's journey to the pinnacle of his sport has been anything but easy.
His life took a significant turn in 2014 when he decided to join Connacht, marking the beginning of a transformative chapter. Aki relocated his family from New Zealand to Galway, where he quickly made a name for himself as an electrifying centre for Connacht, Ireland, and the British and Irish Lions.
However, prior to establishing himself in Ireland, Aki's promising rugby career faced delays as he worked as a bank teller in Auckland, doing what was necessary to support his family.
"At one point, I completely stopped playing rugby," Aki recounted during his conversation with Ireland Rugby Social. "When I first embarked on my rugby journey, I was part of the New Zealand Under-20s camp. I vividly remember telling them, 'I can’t attend because I am starting a job.'
"Despite my manager urging me to go, I ended up arriving late to the camp, got through it, but missed the next one due to work commitments. Those were the difficult sacrifices I had to make; I needed the income."
Aki’s rugby prowess was well-known, and fate intervened when former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga visited the bank where Aki worked. He extended an opportunity for Aki to join Counties Manukau.
"He mentioned that he had heard about my rugby skills and was willing to give me a shot, although he couldn’t guarantee a contract," Aki shared. "After discussing it with my bank manager, who was supportive, I jumped at the chance. He told me that if it didn’t pan out, I could always return to my job."
Fortunately, things turned out positively. Aki excelled with Counties and subsequently signed with the Chiefs, who were then reigning Super Rugby champions, helping them secure the title again in 2013.
While his career flourished in New Zealand, Aki realized that breaking into the All Blacks squad seemed unlikely, leading him to set his sights on making a mark in Ireland.
"People’s opinions won’t hurt me," he asserts confidently.
Joining Connacht, then under the guidance of fellow Aucklander Pat Lam, became the catalyst for Aki’s success. During the 2015-16 season, he only missed one match, contributing to the team's first Pro12 championship victory. His remarkable performance earned him the player of the year award. This success enabled him to meet the eligibility criteria set by World Rugby and represent Ireland ahead of the autumn internationals in 2017.
His selection for the Irish national team ignited a heated discussion regarding the three-year residency rule in World Rugby, which has since been extended to five years. However, Aki has learned to ignore the surrounding chatter and focus on his performance.
"The discussions were always there," he acknowledged. "I was frequently asked about it in interviews, but I made an effort to avoid the negativity. I did come across some online criticisms, but having a strong support system helped. My partner reminded me to focus on my game instead of outside opinions."
Other New Zealand-born players, such as James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park, have also qualified to play for Ireland under the same residency rule, and Aki recognizes that they too face scrutiny.
"It’s just part of the experience. I don’t have any problems with people’s opinions unless they confront me in person while my family is around—that’s a different matter altogether. People are entitled to their views, but they won’t affect me personally."
Clearly, Aki has not allowed public sentiment to disrupt his international career. Now at 35 years old, he has already earned 68 caps for Ireland and has participated in two British and Irish Lions tours.
He has celebrated victory in two Grand Slams with Ireland and was an integral part of Andy Farrell’s squad during their impressive run to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which earned him a nomination for the World Rugby Player of the Year.
Looking ahead, while Aki will be nearly 37 by the time the 2027 World Cup takes place in Australia, he shows no signs of slowing down.
"If I’m performing well and my body holds up, I’ll definitely continue playing if Faz selects me," he stated, as he anticipates being named in Ireland’s Six Nations squad next week.
In his conversation on the Ireland Rugby Social, Aki also shares insights about working with Stuart Lancaster at Connacht, discusses surprising personalities from last year's British and Irish Lions tour, and recalls a recent on-field encounter with his teammate Stuart McCloskey.
