Bundee Aki

Bundee Aki (born 7 April 1990) is a professional rugby union player who plays for Connacht in the Pro14 and the Ireland national team. Aki was born and grew up in New Zealand, of Samoan descent, and qualified for Ireland through residency. A centre, he has also played for New Zealand provincial team Counties Manukau and for the Chiefs in Super Rugby.

Bundee Aki
Birth nameFua Leiofi Bundellu Aki[1]
Date of birth (1990-04-07) 7 April 1990
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Weight102 kg (16.1 st; 225 lb)[3]
SchoolManurewa High School
UniversityAthlone Institute of Technology
SpouseKayla Ielemia
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Current team Connacht
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2014
2013–2014
2014–		 Counties Manukau
Waikato Chiefs
Connacht		 43
25
92		 (50)
(50)
(90)
Correct as of 11 September 2019
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017– Ireland 26 (20)
Correct as of 23 February 2020

Aki has won a Super Rugby title with the Chiefs and a Pro12 title with Connacht. In 2015–16 he was named the league's player of the season.

Aki lives in Renmore, a suburb of Galway city.

Early life and education

Aki was born in the Auckland suburb of Otahuhu,[4] to Hercules and Sautia Aki.[5] 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.[6] Bundee was the second eldest of seven children, with two brothers and four sisters.[7]

Aki grew up in Manurewa, a suburb in South Auckland, and attended Manurewa High School [8], 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 at Westpac.[9]

Club career

Career in Malaysia

Aki played for the Borneo Eagles based in Sabah, East Malaysia.

Career in New Zealand

Counties Manukau

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.[10] In the 2012 ITM Cup, he played 11 of the team's 12 games, starting on each occasion and scoring six tries.[10] 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.[11]

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.[10] He also started in the team's play-off semi-final, a 41–10 defeat to Wellington.[12] Aki scored one try during the course of the season, with the score coming against Tasman in a 20–40 defeat.[13]

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 fifth, two points outside the playoff places, in the 2014 ITM Cup, but did not score any points.[10] Aki's final appearance for Counties Manukau came in the team's 41–18 victory over Auckland on 8 October 2014.[14]

Chiefs

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.[15] 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.[10] 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.[16][17]

Aki played ten times for Chiefs in the regular season of the 2014 season, starting seven of these matches and scoring three tries.[10] 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.[18] 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.[19]

Connacht

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.[19][20]

He quickly became a key part of Connacht's setup, staring whenever fit and excelling on the pitch. [21]

On 25 October 2016, Aki signed a new contract to remain at Connacht until 2020 and became eligible to play for Ireland after completing three years of residence in the country in October 2017.[22]

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. [21] 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 (...) From the start of my Debut in the Irish jersey me and my family have had great support.” [23] His decision to extend his contract came after much media speculation about what his future may hold after a dissapointing Rugby World Cup in Japan. [24]

Ireland call-up

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 the 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.[25] His inclusion came at a time when a growing number of players where qualifying to play for a foreign nation based on the three-year residency rule, which sparked a huge debate about elegibility rules in rugby union. [26][27][28][29]

Parts of the media stated that he had no real connection with Ireland and 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 and thus ended his international career. [30].

Former Ireland international Neil Francis was one of the most vocal critics, questioning the integrity of internatinal rugby following his call-up: "Being good enough or being more than good enough is not the point. The prime criteria for being selected to play for Ireland is that you be Irish above all other things. You can be committed to the cause, but you can be paid to be committed to the cause. You can learn the anthem. You can die for the jersey. Pick a jersey, any jersey and I will die for it. You can quote rule 8 to me as long as you like but you can't trade out your heritage. You can't stand your own down for tourists and you can't give your national jersey to people who pick it up on the back of a contract for services. The green jersey is not for sale". [31]

Another public figure to critizice the call-up was recently retired Ireland winger Luke Fitzgerald, who has long been critical of players qualifying via the residency rule. [32][33] He said “He shouldn’t be in that team. The guy is literally a blow-in. It’s going to annoy me watching it. Aki is getting away with it and it’s wrong and it doesn’t sit well with me. What’s going on here? We’re not picking any of the Irish guys? Ringrose has got the potential to be the next Drico [Brian O'Driscoll]" [33]

However, some pundits and ex rugby players such as Alan Quinlan defended Aki's decision, stating that it's the nature of professional sport "to get paid to perform". [30] Ireland teammate Chris Farrell has also stood up for Aki, saying that “I’ve walked down the streets of Galway with Bundee and it’s chaos, he’s such a leader down there and has done so much for the province”, adding that it was "fantastic" to have him in the team. [33]

Former Ireland head coach Eddie O'Sullivan, an influential figure in the sport, said that while he was critical of the three-year residency rule, it was unfair to single out the players. He declared "I thought it was a lot of hype about really nothing. And I felt bad for the player, because he was in the middle of a firestorm that had nothing to do with him; other people had done the same as he had. Now, maybe he said a couple of things earlier that people latched onto, but that doesn’t matter. I felt bad for him (...)” [34]

He was also supported by Ireland teammate Connor Murray, who declared: "Yeah, I think [it is unfair]. It's tough on a player like that. He came over here and has played rugby and qualified for Ireland in the right way. I know people have different opinions on that [qualification process] but if you're just looking at calling a player and singling a player out like that, and giving someone abuse or a hard time about it, I think it's really unfair. Bundee hasn't done anything wrong. He has come into the squad. He's a bubbly guy, he has lots of character and he's working really hard; and he's an awesome player. For us, we're lucky to have him in our squad. It's definitely unfair for someone to receive that heat off the media when he hasn't done anything wrong. He just loves playing rugby and he's looking to get the opportunities and hopefully he'll get one, and show people how good he is. And quieten people. He's just buzzing around the place and enjoying training, and that side of it. For me, I'm sure he's seen it as we see most things, whether it be on your phone or someone telling you. You're going to see it. From what I see, he's handling it really well and just enjoying rugby." [35]

Another former Ireland player to defend Aki was Simon Easterby: “The rules are the rules and Bundee has invested time into moving to Connacht. There is always the question over the eligibility of players whether it is residency or grand parentage, players who aren’t born in the country. And that will continue. Bundee and other players have certainly been singled out by the media but he has fitted in really well. We’re very happy with what he has already shown.” [36]

Writing for the Irish Times, irish journalist Una Mullally issued a warning in how the whole debate was being carried, and what it really meant to be irish, stating: "What is the basis for asserting that someone such as Aki playing for Ireland is somehow wrong? It is unlikley that the IRFU will go about replacing every Irish player with new players from the southern hemisphere. But there is something primal and familiar in this concern, a fear of being replaced or cast aside, of one’s power being unseated. Unfortunately for those who argue against Aki’s inclusion - despite the fact that this may not be their intention at all - these are the same irrational fears articulate by those who oppose immigration. Likewise they are enlisted by those who prescribe national identities based on their own likeness, or who complain about the rightful positions of Irish people (jobs, a place on a team) being “taken” by an “outsider” (...) The problem with this rhetoric around non-Irish-born players playing for Ireland is how it intersects with the bockety relationship white Irish people have with race in this country. We are a country that still trades in raw and basic racism, which we often excuse as “ignorance” as opposed to hatred or discrimination." [37]

Upon being called, Aki declared that "[I'm] just taking it one step at a time, obviously I just need to play well here for us first and see how we go." [38] In 2019, Aki responded to people still criticizing his selection for Ireland: “Ah look, people have their own opinions, which is fair. Some people won’t be happy with me pulling on an Irish jersey but I obviously felt like playing for this country, putting in the hard work, anything can happen. They’re more than able to have their own opinion. That’s how they think and how they approach it. I highly respect them for that and I’ve got nothing towards them. All I’ve got to do is just make sure I put in a performance and do what I can do, and that’s just to perform on the field, and that’s all I can ask for. Hopefully I do myself proud, I do my team-mates proud, make sure I do my family proud and most of all, the country proud. That’s all I can do realistically as a rugby player.” [39]

Aki acknowledged that a big part of his motivation to move to Ireland was to play international rugby, and that he worked hard to make both Connacht and the Irish team proud. “When I first came over my ambition was to play at an international level, but obviously it’s never a given. It was such a hard decision to move over with my family but Ireland has welcomed me with open arms. Like I said, it was never given that I would play at international level. I had to put in the hard work, I had to put in week-by-week performances. Connacht have supported me from day one when I first arrived and Galway, everyone knows how friendly they are and how they are such good people. I call it my home at the moment and I’m sure people will feel like I’m one of them as well.” [39]

Ireland career

Aki made his debut for Ireland in the 38-3 win against South Africa at the Aviva Stadium on 11 November 2017.[40] On 12 October 2019, Aki received a red card for a high tackle on UJ Seuteni in the 29th minute of the 47-5 win over Samoa at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[41]

Personal life

Aki grew up and went to school with fellow Chiefs teammate Tim Nanai-Williams. [8]

Aki has two children and frequently highlights the importance his family has to him. [42]

Honours

Chiefs Rugby

Connacht Rugby

Ireland

References
  1. "Bundee Aki Reveals His Real Name & Why Everyone Calls Him Bundee". RugbyLAD.com. 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.
  2. https://www.connachtrugby.ie/players/bundee-aki/
  3. https://www.connachtrugby.ie/players/bundee-aki/
  4. "Player Profiles: Bundee Aki". Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  5. "'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.
  6. "Bundee Aki Reveals His Real Name & Why Everyone Calls Him Bundee". RugbyLAD. 22 September 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  7. "Bundee Aki prepared for his biggest challenge yet". Irish Times. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  8. "Manurewa Chiefs: Tim Nanai Williams and Bundee Aki". YouTube.
  9. "Rugby: Bundee looks to fit the bill". The New Zealand Herald. 20 January 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  10. "Player statistics - club stats: Bundee Aki". Itsrugby. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  11. "Counties-Manukau win promotion to premiership". Radio New Zealand. 26 October 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  12. "Wellington 41 - 10 Counties Manukau". The New Zealand Herald. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  13. "Counties Manukau 20 – 40 Tasman". Ultimate Rugby. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  14. "Counties Manukau 41 - 18 Auckland". The New Zealand Herald. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
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  16. "MATCH BREAKDOWN: Chiefs vs Crusaders". SA Rugby. 27 July 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
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  18. "BRUMBIES END CHIEFS' TITLE RUN". SANZAR. 19 July 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  19. "Connacht announce signing of Super XV winner Bundee Aki". Irish Independent. 12 April 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  20. "Connacht sign centre Bundee Aki" (Press release). Connacht Rugby. 12 April 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  21. Kinsella, Murray. "IRFU confirm new Bundee Aki deal to keep him with Connacht until 2023". The42. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  22. "Confirmed: Bundee Aki agrees bumper long-term deal with Connacht while Ultan Dillane signs new two year contract". Irish Independent. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
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  27. World, Rugby (8 October 2016). "The residency rule is being exploited as project players flood European game". Rugby World. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
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  30. 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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  32. "Bundee Aki: Critics can say what they want, I'm proud to represent Ireland". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  33. Kinsella, Murray. "'People have their own opinions' - Aki proud to represent Ireland at the World Cup". The42. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  34. Casey, Gavan. "'I couldn't get my head around it: 'Why are we having this debate now? What did Aki do differently?". The42. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  35. "Conor Murray's comments on Bundee Aki should put an end to the bullshit". SportsJOE.ie. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  36. House, Johnny Watterson at Carton. "Conor Murray says teammate Bundee Aki doesn't deserve abuse". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  37. Mullally, Una. "Questioning Bundee Aki's right to play for Ireland says more about us than him". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
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