Bundee Aki’s excellence on a rugby pitch was once in danger of never being seen
Fasika Zelealem Senior Sports Reporter
15:00, 01 Nov 2025
Ireland’s Bundee Aki(Image: INPHO/Dan Sheridan)
Bundee Aki could’ve been on the other side as Ireland face New Zealand – or on neither.
Aki has represented Ireland since 2017 despite being born in New Zealand, with the 35-year-old qualifying on residency grounds. He’s played a key role for their national team over the past few years, having racked up 65 caps and 95 points.
With Ireland, Aki has been a focal point of their three Six Nations Championships, three Triple Crowns and two Grand Slams. While he is in the twilight years of his career, the centre remains an important aspect of Ireland’s team. Before a professional career that has spanned 14 years, there was a moment Aki opted to hang up his rugby boots because of familial commitments.
Almost quitting rugby
A teenage father at the time, Aki decided to end his rugby dream to work as a bank teller in order to financially support his daughter. However, it was due to the intervention of ex-All Blacks star Tana Umaga that he resumed working towards his sporting ambitions.
A friend of Aki’s, Tim Nanai-Williams, told RugbyPass that upon playing club rugby again thanks to encouragement from his mother, his talent was noticed by Umaga. “Tana Umaga was at (NPC side) Counties Manukau,” said Nanai-Williams.
Aki is back in the Ireland squad once again for the autumn internationals(Image: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)
“And he rung me and asked, ‘What do you reckon about Bundee?’ The deal was, as a club player, you’d go in and train with the squad at 6am, and you weren’t paid.
“Bundee was trying to work and provide and I told him, ‘Hey, just guts it out, because once you make NPC, you could be on your way… and if you don’t go, I’m gonna get in trouble too! I know what you can do.’
“He just needed a little kick up the a**e. He made the Counties team that year, quit his job and went from there.”
Baby born in car
Noticeably thrilled following the British and Irish Lions’ third Test against Australia in Sydney, which they won 22-12, Aki was extremely forthright in an interview where he revealed his wife Kayla had given birth in a car before the first Test of the series.
Welcoming their fifth child, Kayla had been en route to the hospital but didn’t get there in time. When asked what he wanted to do after the match, Aki answered: “I want to enjoy my break, my family time.
“I haven’t seen my family for eight weeks. I have a newborn child who I haven’t met yet.” He continued: “Yep, a girl. She was born when we were playing in Brisbane, so I haven’t met her.
“Her name is Aine, so I’m looking forward to going and meeting her.” Following the admission, he made sure to pay special tribute to Kayla as he added: “Credit to my wife.”
Potential future
Having been with Connacht since 2014, Aki’s contract with the club runs up until 2026, which would mark 12 years he’s spent in Galway. With uncertainty surrounding his club future amid his resurgence with the national team, talks were held with Bristol Bears.
With ex-Connacht boss Pat Lam now the director of rugby at the Premiership club, he may enjoy seeing a familiar face should he opt to depart his current side. Another club touted as a possible destination is the Newcastle Red Bulls.
