35 Facts About Bundee Aki

Bundee Aki has won a Super Rugby title with the Chiefs and a Pro12 title with Connacht.

Bundee Aki was selected to represent the British and Irish Lions for their 2021 tour to South Africa.

Bundee Aki was born in the Auckland suburb of Otahuhu, to Hercules and Sautia Bundee Aki.

Bundee Aki was named Fua Leiofi, but was called Bundellu after the doctor who delivered him.

The nickname "Bundee Aki" was given to him by a rugby coach at under-age level.

Bundee Aki was the second eldest of six children, with one brother and four sisters.

Bundee Aki grew up in Manurewa, a suburb in South Auckland, and attended Manurewa High School, where he played for the school's First XV rugby team.

Bundee Aki took a year out from a professional rugby career in 2011, when he worked as a bank teller.

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

Bundee Aki began playing for Counties Manukau in the 2011 season.

Bundee Aki 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.

Bundee Aki started all ten games as Counties fifth, two points outside the playoff places, in the 2014 ITM Cup, but did not score any points.

In September 2012, it was announced that Bundee Aki had signed for reigning Super Rugby champions the Chiefs, having been part of the side's development set up previously.

Bundee Aki came into the team for the 2013 Super Rugby season.

Bundee Aki 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.

Bundee Aki 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.

Bundee Aki played ten times for Chiefs in the regular season of the 2014 season, starting seven of these matches and scoring three tries.

Bundee Aki started in the Chiefs' quarter-final game against the Brumbies, a replay of the previous year's final.

Bundee Aki quickly became a key part of Connacht's setup, starting whenever fit and excelling on the pitch.

On 25 October 2016, Bundee Aki signed a new contract to remain at Connacht until 2020.

Bundee Aki became eligible to play for Ireland after completing three years of residence in the country in October 2017.

Bundee Aki was qualified to play for New Zealand, where he was born and raised, and Samoa, the country of origin of his parents.

On 26 October 2017, Bundee Aki was named in the extended Ireland squad for the Autumn internationals.

Bundee Aki's 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.

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 Bundee Aki decide to move abroad after his contract was over thus ending his international career.

Bundee Aki's selection was criticised by some former internationals, including Neil Francis and Luke Fitzgerald, who was generally critical of the residency rule, but supported by others including Alan Quinlan Simon Easterby, and Chris Farrell.

Bundee 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.

Injuries to centre partners Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw and Chris Farrell meant that Bundee Aki started every match and was only replaced in the final game against England due to injury.

Bundee Aki was 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.

Bundee Aki 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.

In September 2019, Bundee Aki was named in the Irish squad for the upcoming World Cup.

Bundee Aki was called up to be part of the Irish squad for the 2023 Six Nations Championship which went on to win their fourth Grand Slam.

Bundee Aki made his test debut on 7 August 2021 in the final test.

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

Bundee Aki has two children and frequently highlights the importance his family has to him.