Latest news with #Bundee
Extra.ie
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Bundee Aki's life away from the pitch - from wife and kids to Irish citizenship
Bundee Aki's set to start for the British and Irish Lions during their match against Argentina on Friday night. The New Zealand-born centre, who has been a revelation for both Connacht and Ireland, has been lauded as one of the best players in the country — being nominated as World Player of the Year in 2023. Both on and off the pitch, Bundee has support in the form of his family — with his wife and four children all residing in Galway with him. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bundee Aki (@bundeeaki) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bundee Aki (@bundeeaki) Bundee and his wife Kayla wed in their native New Zealand in 2018, two years after he was a part of the Connacht team that won the Pro12. The couple have three daughters, Armani-Jade, Adrianna and Ailbhe, as well as a son called Adronicus — with three of the kids being born at home after Kayla had a poor experience with the birth of eldest Armani-Jade. The couple also revealed that they were expecting their fifth child earlier this month in an adorable photo on Instagram where Kayla showed off her baby bump. Bundee regularly shares his family on social media, and shared an adorable photo of himself, Kayla and the kids after the country won back-to-back Six Nations championships last year. Bundee Aki and his wife Kayla share four children together, with a fifth on the way. Pic: INPHO/Andrew Downes While there have been plenty of honorary Irishmen and women over the years (Jack Charlton being the most famous example), Bundee revealed last year that he was one of over 3,000 people who became Irish citizens, getting the passport to boot. Speaking on his citizenship, Bundee told the Late Late Show that the decision to join Connacht, which ultimately changed his life, didn't come lightly. 'Obviously, at the time it was a big decision,' he said. 'It wasn't an easy one — I obviously had to talk to a few close family members, close friends and coaches. I had a small family at the time, my wife and two kids and the youngest one was three years old, so to get the call from Pat Lam to come over here and offer an opportunity… I knew I had to give it everything I got.' Bundee became an Irish citizen last October, over 10 years after he joined Connacht. Pic: Courtesy of RTÉ News 'That's one thing I made sure I stood by, to give it everything for my family and for Connacht. It's been 10 years now and I've enjoyed every single bit of it. It doesn't even feel like 10 years — more like two or three years.' 10 years after joining Connacht, he became an Irish citizen — saying that he was greeted with open arms over the previous decade by Irish people. 'It's not just what I do on or off the pitch,' Bundee said. 'The way they've treated me and my family, obviously in Galway, but around the country too, how lovely people are, how welcoming they are with me and my kids. 'You can honestly feel how proud they are, and I feel the love they've given me and for me to be able to get granted the citizenship was no better feeling than to be able to get that chance to be able to say, I can now embrace the Irish culture.'
RTÉ News
08-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Bernard Jackman: Mack Hansen's Lions pick a surprise but Andy Farrell always a fan of Irish wing
Bernard Jackman says Mack Hansen's inclusion in the Lions squad is something of a surprise but that Andy Farrell has always been a big fan of the Connacht wing. The 27-year-old Canberra native is currently sidelined with an ankle injury and has endured an injury disrupted season, having missed half of last season with a shoulder issue. He was also banned for three games in the New Year after his outburst at officials following Connacht's narrow URC loss to Leinster. Despite this Hansen has made the cut and is one of 15 Ireland players who will tour Australia for their nine-game tour this summer. After the squad was named in London this afternoon, Hansen was the Irish player picked to speak on Sky Sports with Farrell joking that it was the other coaches who picked the outspoken Aussie. "I'm lost for words, for the first time in my life, which is good for Faz to hear," said Hansen, who has scored 12 tries in 28 Ireland games. "Bundee [Aki] was meant to do [this interview] but he's minding the kids." 🗣️ "Bundee was meant to do it but he's minding the kids" Mack Hansen was "lost for words" after his British and Irish Lions inclusion 🤣 — Sky Sports (@SkySports) May 8, 2025 Speaking to RTÉ Sport, former Ireland and Leinster hooker Jackman said: "Yeah, Mack is probably a surprise. "Andy Farrell has always been a huge fan of his. He's a phenomenal player but has had a stop-start season with injury, but we know what we can do." Forwards Dan Sheehan, Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Jack Conan and Josh van der Flier are included as well as Ireland backs Bundee Aki Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe, Garry Ringrose and Hugo Keenan. Caelan Doris (above), however, misses out after undergoing surgery on a shoulder injury picked up in Saturday's Champions Cup defeat. Farrell has backed the Leinster and Ireland captain to return stronger but didn't provide any timeline for Doris' recovery. He confirmed he'd spoken to the 27-year-old. "You can imagine, he's devastated," Farrell told reporters after the announcement. "He would have definitely been in the mix, such an experienced player and leader. "It's devastating for people like that but the stories are constant in every single tour, aren't they, and sport can be cruel sometimes. "Caelan will be back bigger and stronger." Meanwhile, former Lions out-half Johnny Sexton, who was added to the coaching ticket soon after taking up a permanent role with Ireland spoke about his involvement. "Looking after the kicking side of the game," said Sexton. "Obviously, there's amazing talent picked there from that point of view. I'll be there to help them out wherever I can. It's a short tour, so being able to change too much won't be a thing. "I'll be there. I've experienced a lot as a kicker, I've experienced a lot as a player. "Being able to pass on my experience to these players is something I'm really passionate about." As expected, Sam Prendergast missed out on selection. Jackman says the 22-year-old will have more opportunities to impress. "He's so young, he has potentially three Lions tours ahead of him. So has Jack Crowley, they all have time on their side."
Extra.ie
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Peter O'Mahony digs into post-retirement plans
Peter O'Mahony has already appeared to have his post-retirement career lined up, as he is giving his followers gardening tips. Peter announced earlier this year that he'd be retiring at the end of the season, with the flanker's international career emotionally coming to an end earlier this year at the 6 Nations. There are several hobbies one can get into post-retirement, with Peter not bucking the trend; as he looks set to replace the pitch for the garden with him sharing a video of him tending to his lawn. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Peter O'Mahony (@peteomahony) 'That time of year again. Lawn renovation time,' Peter wrote on his Instagram, with him already lining up a gardening career with his six tips; scalp, scarify, level, over-seed, and keep well-watered. However, his sixth was what had his followers in stitches; which was to keep the kids off the grass — something his three kids, Indie, Theo and Ralph, duly obliged as they helped their dad with the other five tips. 'Love the last comment, keep the kids off,' one person commented, while others reckoned Peter is sitting on a million euro idea for a gardening show, which may see him enlist the help of his Munster and Ireland teammates. Pic: Peter O'Mahony/Instagram 'Bundee is banned,' one person joked, while another wrote 'I'm sure it would be a very popular tv show where you go and sort out fellow rugby players terrible gardens and abuse them at the same time.' Peter's career will come to an official end this June at the end of the 2024-25 URC, with him bowing out of Europe in bittersweet fashion after Munster lost to Bordeaux in the quarter final of the Champion's Cup. He was joined by his wife Jess and their son Theo following the match, with Jessica sharing a snap alongside Stephen's wife and one of their children, Alex, as well as a clip from the game which saw the Munster fans proudly waving their Munster flags and singing The Fields of Athenry. Peter will be retiring from rugby at the end of this season. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile The mum-of-three also shared a picture of Theo and Stephen Archer's son Alex after the fellow Corkman won his 300th cap for the province, writing: 'Mini o'mahony & mini archer pending.' Jessica followed up with a string of photos onto her Instagram grid as she paid tribute to Munster rugby, the fans and Steven Archer. '@munsterrugby we love you so much,' she wrote. 'Supporters you are legends. Steven Archer you are the biggest hero!'
