Bundee Aki

On 26 October 2017, Aki was named in the extended Ireland squad for the Autumn internationals. With his inclusion came some criticism regarding his country of birth. Aki made his debut for Ireland in the 38-3 win against South Africa at the Aviva Stadium on 11 November 2017. 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.

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. 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.

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.

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. Aki's final appearance for Counties Manukau came in the team's 41–18 victory over Auckland on 8 October 2014.

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

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

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. 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. 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.

Aki was a student at Manurewa High School where he played for the school's rugby team. He took a year out from a professional rugby career in 2011, when he worked as a bank teller at Westpac.

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

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.