Fair play to Bundee Aki for speaking so frankly. Still, we almost wish he was learning the words to Amhrán na bhFiann.
The problem with Bundee Aki is that he has almost been too successful at Connacht.
Arriving as a 24-year-old that had spurned a chance of representing the All Blacks, Aki would have been an Ireland player, no problem, by October 2017 if he kept his head down and did a decent job with mid-table Connacht.
Instead, in the space of a season, he was tearing into defences and bringing Connacht to the cusp of the Champions Cup. By the end of his second season, he had inspired the westerners to the Guinness PRO12 title and was named the league’s best player. He had fully embraced life as a Connacht man – taking the province and its people to his heart.
Now that he’s gone and done that, everybody’s interested.
The Kiwi’s agent is already in talks with the IRFU about a new contract. Aki is well paid but he may have to become one of the country’s best earners if he is to hang around. If not, just about every club in the Top 14 and Premiership will come calling.
The player himself is quite laid-back about his Test future. He spoke to a “happy” Joe Schmidt about his performances last season but admits he does not know where he will play international rugby. He is eligible to line-out for New Zealand and should be able to do likewise with Ireland and England next year.
He insists he will put his hand up – chose a flag to march under – when the time comes. For now, it’s all about playing and enjoying his footy. There is no needless lip service about feeling 100% Irish either.
“I’ve taken in a lot of what Irish people do and stuff like that. I’ve enjoyed Irish culture and stuff like that but it’s wrong for me to say I’m Irish. I’ve enjoyed the culture and the environment I’m in, but for me to say I’m Irish, that’s wrong for me to say because I wasn’t born here.
“And it’s wrong for me to take away from the guys who were born here and who want to play for the Irish and are Irish. I’m just here. My ambition is to play international, I like taking in the culture as an Irish person, but it’s wrong for me to say I’m Irish.”
The one ray of light Irish fans can take is the recent arrivals of Aki’s wife and two children to Galway. Having gone it alone for the first two months of the season, the 26-year-old now has another family, away from his Connacht family.
Right now, we’ll take every sign we can get.
*Bundee Aki was at the official launch of Connacht’s 2016/17 home jersey, released in conjunction with new title sponsor and official retail partner Elverys Intersport.
On the latest episode of the GAA Hour Hurling Show Wooly and the lads reflect on a monumental weekend of action. Listen below or subscribe here on iTunes
