Bundee Aki has established himself as one of the most prominent and respected figures in the world of rugby, yet his journey to reach the pinnacle of this sport was anything but straightforward. His life took a significant turn in 2014 when he decided to accept an opportunity with Connacht. This decision led him to relocate his family from New Zealand to Galway, where he transformed into an exhilarating and impactful centre for both Connacht and the national team of Ireland, as well as the British and Irish Lions.
However, prior to finding his footing in the west of Ireland, Aki's budding rugby career was temporarily sidelined while he worked as a bank teller in Auckland to provide for his family. "I completely stopped playing rugby," Aki shared during a recent episode of the Ireland Rugby Social. "In the early days of my career, I was involved with the New Zealand Under-20s camp. I vividly remember telling them, 'I can’t attend because I have to start my job.' My manager encouraged me to go anyway, so I showed up late to training, managed to pass that camp, and even made it to the second one, but by the time the third rolled around, I simply couldn't make it due to work commitments. Those are the sacrifices you make when you need to earn a living."
Despite his undeniable talent on the rugby field, Aki found himself working in a bank. It was a chance encounter that eventually changed everything; former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga walked into the bank and extended an offer for Aki to join Counties Manukau. "He approached me saying, 'I've heard great things about your rugby skills, and I'm willing to give you an opportunity to see what you've got, though I can't guarantee a contract,'" Aki recounted. After discussing it with his bank manager, who showed support for his ambitions, Aki took the leap to pursue rugby full-time with the understanding that he could return to his job if things didn't pan out.
Fortunately for Aki, things did pan out. He excelled at Counties Manukau, which led to a contract with the Chiefs, the reigning Super Rugby champions, for the 2013 season, where he played a crucial role in helping them defend their title. However, while his reputation grew within New Zealand rugby, Aki became aware that breaking into the All Blacks squad would be a challenge. Subsequently, he made the pivotal decision to pursue his career in Ireland.
Joining Connacht, under the guidance of fellow Aucklander Pat Lam, served as Aki's launchpad to prominence. During the 2015-16 season, he stood out, missing only one match as Connacht claimed their inaugural Pro12 title. His impressive performance earned him the player of the year designation, and after fulfilling the three-year residency requirement set by World Rugby at the time, Aki became eligible to represent Ireland ahead of the 2017 autumn internationals.
His selection for the Irish squad ignited considerable debate surrounding the controversial residency rule, which was later adjusted to five years. Yet, Aki has learned to tune out the external noise that often accompanies such discussions. "It was always part of the conversation," he commented regarding the scrutiny. "Sure, many people asked me about it, but I tried to ignore it because I understood there would be backlash, especially from those who were upset. I can't deny that I noticed some of the online chatter, but I was fortunate to have supportive people around me. My partner often reminded me that I just needed to focus on my performance."
Interestingly, other New Zealand-born players like James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park also qualified for Ireland under the same residency rule, and Aki mentioned that they still face similar criticism. "This is just part of our reality now. I don't mind people's opinions, as long as they don't express them directly to me in front of my kids and wife—that’s a different matter altogether. People are entitled to their views, but they won’t affect me."
Aki's resilience against external criticism has clearly paid off in his international career. At 35 years old, he has earned 68 caps for Ireland and participated in two tours with the British and Irish Lions. Having celebrated two Grand Slam victories with Ireland, he was particularly impressive during Andy Farrell's team's journey to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which earned him a nomination for World Rugby’s player of the year award.
Looking ahead, even though Aki will be nearing 37 by the time the 2027 World Cup in Australia rolls around, he shows no signs of slowing down. "If I'm still playing well and my body feels good, then absolutely, if Faz selects me, I’d love to go," he stated, with anticipation for the upcoming Six Nations squad announcement next week.
In his appearance on the Ireland Rugby Social, Aki also shares insights about working alongside Stuart Lancaster at Connacht, reflects on the personalities that surprised him during last year's British and Irish Lions tour, and recounts a recent clash on the field with his Ireland teammate Stuart McCloskey.
So, what do you think? Is it possible for players like Aki to truly block out the noise? Or do you believe that external pressures inevitably influence their performance? Join the conversation and share your thoughts!
