Bundee Aki says he got “heaps” of offers but he rejected them all to stay in Connacht.
Sure where else would you go?
There was interest in the Kiwi centre from Munster, Clermont, Bordeaux and ‘a few’ English Premiership clubs. Some was firm, some was the arm-chancing and offer making that goes on week to week in professional rugby circles.
The 26-year-old is just over two years in Galway now and was joined by his partner and two young daughters over the summer. He found a family in the West of Ireland too – the wider Connacht squad and the staff that work so diligently out at The Sportsground.
The deal Aki signed a couple of weeks ago – it was only announced on Tuesday, and for good reason – is a provincial contract. For now, he is not centrally contracted to the IRFU on a national deal. Aki has broken the union’s mould like he has broken so many defensive lines over the years.
He is set to be paid in the region of €550,000 per season and that could rise significantly, and with inherent sponsorship deals, were he to make his Ireland debut in 2017.
One comment made by the 26-year-old at yesterday’s announcement shone like a beacon:
“People chase money some times and it doesn’t work out. If you are enjoying rugby where you are why move?”
A lovely sentiment and a valid question.
It also tallies with a man who knows the cost of some things but the value of all that matters – family, faith, community.
'When I think of Ireland, I think of Galway' – The making of Bundee Aki, Good Bugger and Galwayman | @dionfanning https://t.co/l4MjR9hjx1
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) September 1, 2016
Aki says Joe Schmidt has been in contact with him regularly enough but it has mostly been about tactics or his performances.
Schmidt and Aki will stay in touch but they won’t sweat the international details too much until closer the time when he becomes Irish qualified. His other Test-playing options are Samoa or, and this is increasingly unlikely, New Zealand.
Aki prefers not to make declarations about playing for Ireland as he feels it would be disrespectful to the current internationals and those, such as Garry Ringrose and Rory Scannell, that are yearning for a chance to represent their country.
All in good time.
Colm Parkinson chats to Kerry GAA legend, and author, Kieran Donaghy in a special edition of The GAA Hour. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes
