Bundee Aki: The Unlikely Journey to Stardom
For Bundee Aki, life on the rugby pitch is far from serene. Behind the scenes of his illustrious career as a centre for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions lies an unlikely journey that defied expectations.
Aki's path to stardom began in 2014 when he accepted an offer from Connacht. The move marked a significant departure from his life in New Zealand, where he had worked as a bank teller to support his family. Prior to this, Aki had stopped playing rugby altogether to focus on earning a living.
However, it was during this period that he received an unexpected opportunity. Former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga walked into the bank where Aki worked and offered him a chance to revive his rugby career. Despite initial reservations, Aki eventually joined Counties Manukau before moving on to Super Rugby side the Chiefs.
Aki's decision to join Connacht proved pivotal in his journey. The team, coached by fellow New Zealand native Pat Lam, provided Aki with an opportunity to hone his skills and eventually earn a spot in Ireland's squad. In 2017, he became eligible to represent Ireland due to World Rugby's three-year residency rule.
Aki has not been immune to the scrutiny that comes with representing Ireland on the international stage. Despite facing criticism over the residency rule, Aki remains unfazed by online chatter and opinions from fans. "People's opinions aren't going to hurt me," he said in a recent interview.
Throughout his career, Aki has established himself as an exceptional centre. With 68 caps for Ireland and two Grand Slams under his belt, he continues to defy expectations. As the 2027 Rugby World Cup approaches, Aki shows no signs of slowing down.
Aki's journey serves as a testament to perseverance and determination. From a life in New Zealand to becoming one of the world's most respected rugby players, Aki's career is a true inspiration to aspiring athletes.
For Bundee Aki, life on the rugby pitch is far from serene. Behind the scenes of his illustrious career as a centre for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions lies an unlikely journey that defied expectations.
Aki's path to stardom began in 2014 when he accepted an offer from Connacht. The move marked a significant departure from his life in New Zealand, where he had worked as a bank teller to support his family. Prior to this, Aki had stopped playing rugby altogether to focus on earning a living.
However, it was during this period that he received an unexpected opportunity. Former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga walked into the bank where Aki worked and offered him a chance to revive his rugby career. Despite initial reservations, Aki eventually joined Counties Manukau before moving on to Super Rugby side the Chiefs.
Aki's decision to join Connacht proved pivotal in his journey. The team, coached by fellow New Zealand native Pat Lam, provided Aki with an opportunity to hone his skills and eventually earn a spot in Ireland's squad. In 2017, he became eligible to represent Ireland due to World Rugby's three-year residency rule.
Aki has not been immune to the scrutiny that comes with representing Ireland on the international stage. Despite facing criticism over the residency rule, Aki remains unfazed by online chatter and opinions from fans. "People's opinions aren't going to hurt me," he said in a recent interview.
Throughout his career, Aki has established himself as an exceptional centre. With 68 caps for Ireland and two Grand Slams under his belt, he continues to defy expectations. As the 2027 Rugby World Cup approaches, Aki shows no signs of slowing down.
Aki's journey serves as a testament to perseverance and determination. From a life in New Zealand to becoming one of the world's most respected rugby players, Aki's career is a true inspiration to aspiring athletes.
! I mean, who wouldn't want to go from banking teller to international rugby star? 
But seriously, that Tana Umaga dude must've had some major connections to get him back into the game. And let's be real, if someone like Aki can make it big playing rugby in Ireland after being out of the sport for years, that means anything is possible, right? 
I do think it's kinda cool how he's taken all the criticism about the residency rule and just shrugged it off like "hey, people can hate, but I'm still killing it on the pitch" 
Anyway, as a huge rugby fan (obvs 
), I'm super hyped to see what Aki does next, especially with the 2027 Rugby World Cup coming up. Bring it on! 
I gotta say, Bundee Aki's story is genuinely inspiring 
. The way he went from banking jobs to being an international rugby star is wild 
. It just goes to show that you don't need to be stuck in one path your whole life - sometimes taking a risk and trying something new can lead to some amazing opportunities 
. I mean, who would've thought that a former bank teller from New Zealand would become an Ireland rugby legend? Not me, at least! 
The fact that he's still going strong at 37 is just testament to his dedication and perseverance 
From banking jobs to being a pro rugby player, that's some next level stuff! 
. Anyway, Aki's an inspiration not just for rugby fans but anyone looking to make a comeback or pursue their passions. We can all learn from his determination and perseverance 
.
. It just goes to show that you can come back to your passion and make a real difference in your life. He's had his ups and downs, but the guy has always kept it positive and focused on his game. I think it's awesome how he took a chance on himself and made Ireland's squad 
. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to represent Ireland at rugby? 
!
I mean think about it, Bundee Aki came from pretty chill background, working as a bank teller and all that... but he never gave up on his dreams 
It's like fate, right? Aki doesn't even look at the negatives of playing again, just sees it as an opportunity to get back in the game 
. And let's be real, Aki's achieved some serious stuff – 68 caps and two Grand Slams? Not bad for someone who thought he was done with rugby 
and focused on his game 
i love how he didn't let online criticism bring him down 
. His determination to keep playing is super inspiring, especially with the Rugby World Cup coming up in 2027 
.
. Bring it on! 
I think its kinda cool how Bundee Aki went from being a bank teller to playing pro rugby. Like what even was he doing before that? He must've been really dedicated to start over like that. And I love how Tana Umaga stepped in and helped him get back into the game - talk about having a mentor or something! 
.
. Who would've thought that leaving behind a steady bank job to chase a dream could lead to such success? His journey is definitely an inspiration, especially with the residency rule being a bit of a controversy – I guess some people just can't handle progress 
! On a more serious note, it's awesome that Aki has found his niche and continues to dominate on the pitch. He's proof that with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible 
He's proof that with hard work n determination, u can achieve ur dreams 
Average salary 4 professional rugby players in the last year: £350k 
He went through so much and still managed to chase his dreams. The fact that he was offered a chance by Tana Umaga is crazy! 
and i love how he never gave up on his rugby dreams even when it seemed like an impossible feat 
people can say whatever they want but at the end of the day Bundeé knows hes got this 
still, aki's skills on the pitch are no joke, and i'm hyped to see what he'll do at the 2027 rugby world cup 
. can't we just focus on the footy, lol?