Bundee Aki facts for kids

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Bundee Aki

Aki representing Connacht during the 2022–23 EPCR Challenge Cup
Full name	Fua Leiofi Bundellu Aki
Date of birth	(1990-04-07) 7 April 1990 (age 35)
Place of birth	Auckland, New Zealand
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	102 kg (225 lb; 16 st 1 lb)
School	Manurewa High School
University	Athlone Institute of Technology
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre Current team Connacht Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2011–2014 Counties Manukau 43 (50) 2013–2014 Chiefs 25 (50) 2014– Connacht 146 (155) Correct as of 17 January 2025 National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2017– Ireland 65 (95) 2021, 2025 British & Irish Lions 1 (0) Correct as of 15 March 2025

Fua Leiofi Bundellu Aki (born 7 April 1990) is a professional rugby union player. He plays as a centre for the United Rugby Championship club Connacht. Bundee was born in New Zealand, but he plays for the Ireland at international level. He became an Irish citizen in 2024 and has dual citizenship.

Bundee has achieved a lot in his career. He has played for the British & Irish Lions, a special team made up of players from the UK and Ireland. With Ireland, he has won three Six Nations Championships, three Triple Crowns, and two Grand Slams. He also won a Super Rugby title with the Chiefs and a PRO12 title with Connacht Rugby.

Bundee Aki's Early Life

Bundee Aki's family comes from Samoa. He was born in Auckland, New Zealand. His parents are Hercules and Sautia Aki. He was named Fua Leiofi, but people called him Bundellu after the doctor who helped deliver him. His rugby coach gave him the nickname "Bundee" when he was younger. Bundee is the second oldest of six children. He has one brother and four sisters.

Bundee grew up in Manurewa, a suburb in South Auckland. He went to Manurewa High School and played rugby for the school's top team. In 2011, he took a break from professional rugby and worked as a bank teller.

Bundee Aki's Club Rugby Journey

Playing for Counties Manukau

Bundee started playing for Counties Manukau in 2011. He played nine games in his first season, scoring three tries. In 2012, he played 11 games and scored six tries. His team won their division and moved up to the Premiership Division.

In 2013, he played in all ten regular season games for Counties. He helped his team reach the play-offs. Bundee played his last season with Counties in 2014 before moving to Ireland.

Time with the Chiefs

In 2012, Bundee signed with the Chiefs, a top team in Super Rugby. He joined them for the 2013 Super Rugby season. He played in 13 games and scored five tries. The Chiefs finished first in the league. Bundee helped the team win their second Super Rugby title in a row.

He played ten games for the Chiefs in the 2014 season. He scored three tries. His last game for the Chiefs was a close quarter-final match against the Brumbies.

Joining Connacht Rugby

Aki before Connacht's 2022–23 Challenge Cup match against Benetton Rugby

Bundee Aki joined Connacht in Ireland in April 2014. He quickly became a very important player for the team. He always started games when he was fit to play.

In the 2015–16 Pro12 season, Connacht won the Pro12 league for the first time ever. Bundee was named the Player of the Year for his amazing performances. In 2016, he signed a new contract to stay with Connacht until 2020.

Bundee became eligible to play for Ireland in October 2017. This was after he had lived in the country for three years. In November 2019, he signed another contract to stay with Connacht until at least 2023. He said he was "truly grateful" to play for both Connacht and Ireland.

In October 2023, after the Rugby World Cup, Bundee extended his contract again. He will stay with Connacht until 2025. On 17 December 2024, he signed another one-year extension, keeping him with Connacht and the IRFU until the end of the 2025–26 season.

Bundee Aki's International Career

Playing for Ireland

Bundee could have played for New Zealand, where he was born, or Samoa, where his parents are from. However, after living in Ireland for three years, he became eligible to play for Ireland.

In October 2017, Bundee was chosen for the Ireland squad. Some people debated about players qualifying for a country based on how long they lived there. Bundee said he hoped to make Ireland proud with his rugby.

Bundee played his first game for Ireland on 11 November 2017. It was a big 38–3 win against South Africa. He played the whole game.

In the 2018 Six Nations, Bundee was the only centre to play in every game. Ireland won the Grand Slam that year, which means they won all their games. He also helped Ireland win a test series against Australia for the first time since 1979.

Bundee continued to be a regular player for Ireland. On 17 November 2018, he played against his home country, New Zealand. Ireland won 16–9, which was their first win against the All Blacks at home. He also played in all five games of the 2019 Six Nations.

In September 2019, Bundee was picked for the World Cup in Japan. He got a head injury in the first game. He was later sent off in a game against Samoa, which meant he couldn't play for the rest of the tournament.

Bundee was part of the Ireland squad that won their fourth Grand Slam in the 2023 Six Nations. He was also chosen for Ireland's World Cup squad in France. During the tournament, he scored five tries, which tied the record for an Irish player in a single World Cup. He was even nominated for World Player Of The Year! In January 2024, he was named the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Men's Players of The Year.

Bundee was included in the Ireland squad for the 2024 Six Nations. He played very well against Wales in a 31–7 win. In November 2024, he scored a try and was named player-of-the-match in Ireland's 52–17 win against Fiji. In February 2025, he scored a try in the first game of the 2025 Six Nations against England.

Playing for the British & Irish Lions

On 6 May 2021, Bundee Aki was chosen for the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa. He played his first test match for the Lions on 7 August 2021. South Africa won that game and the series.

Bundee Aki's Personal Life

Bundee Aki grew up and went to school with Tim Nanai-Williams, who also became a rugby player. Bundee has four children and often talks about how important his family is to him. He lives in Oranmore, near Galway city in Ireland. On 16 September 2024, Bundee Aki officially became an Irish citizen.

Bundee Aki's International Tries

as of 1 February  2025 (2025 -02-01)^[update]

Bundee Aki's Awards and Achievements

Bundee Aki has won many awards and titles throughout his rugby career:

Chiefs

• 1× Super Rugby title: 2013

Connacht

• 1× Pro12 league title: 2016
• 1× Pro12 Player of the Season: 2016
• 1× Pro12 Dream Team (best players of the season): 2016

Ireland

• 3× Six Nations Championship titles: 2018, 2023, 2024
• 2× Grand Slam (winning all Six Nations games): 2018, 2023
• 4× Triple Crown (beating England, Scotland, and Wales in the Six Nations): 2018, 2022, 2023, 2025

Individual Awards

• 1× Nominee for World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year: 2023
• 1x Ireland Men's XVs players’ player of the year: 2024