Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Bundee Aki named to captain Ireland against Maori All Blacks

(Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Kiwi-born Ireland star Bundee Aki has been named to captain his side against the Maori All Blacks in Hamilton on Wednesday.

ADVERTISEMENT

Aki will take charge of Ireland in the mid-week fixture, which is the first match of Ireland’s highly-anticipated five-game tour of New Zealand.

The 32-year-old midfielder, who made his name with Counties Manukau and the Chiefs before joining Connacht in 2014, is one of several notable figures named by Ireland boss Andy Farrell for the non-capped match.

Video Spacer

Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 19

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 19

      The match against the Maori All Blacks will act as Aki’s first game back at FMG Stadium Waikato since he left the Chiefs eight years ago after he won the Super Rugby title with them in 2013.

      Also included in the starting lineup is wings Keith Earls and Jordan Larmour, both of whom are mainstays in Ireland’s frontline side.

      Experienced prop Cian Healy, veteran halfback Conor Murray and test regulars Jack Conan, Joey Carbery, Finlay Bealham and Niall Scannell have also been named on the bench.

      Carbery, the Munster first-five, is also a New Zealand-born product, while Scannell’s inclusion in the match day side comes on the same day of his arrival in New Zealand as injury cover for fellow hooker Rob Herring.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      A total of five uncapped players – loosehead prop Jeremy Loughman, lock Joe McCarthy, blindside flanker Cian Prendergast, first-five Ciaran Frawley and fullback Jimmy O’Brien – have been picked in Ireland’s starting team.

      The remainder of the run-on side is made up by hooker Dave Heffernan, tighthead prop Tom O’Toole, lock Kieran Treadwell, loose forwards Nick Timoney and Gavin Coombes, halfback Craig Casey and centre James Hume.

      On the bench, lock Ryan Baird and fullback Michael Lowry join Ireland’s experienced contingent in the reserves.

      Kick-off for Wednesday’s match between Ireland and the Maori All Blacks is scheduled for 7:05pm NZT [8:05am UTC+1].

      Ireland team to play Maori All Blacks

      1. Jeremy Loughman*
      2. Dave Heffernan
      3. Tom O’Toole
      4. Joe McCarthy*
      5. Kieran Treadwell
      6. Cian Prendergast*
      7. Nick Timoney
      8. Gavin Coombes
      9. Craig Casey
      10. Ciaran Frawley*
      11. Keith Earls
      12. Bundee Aki (c)
      13. James Hume
      14. Jordan Larmour
      15. Jimmy O’Brien*

      ADVERTISEMENT

      Reserves

      16. Niall Scannell
      17. Cian Healy
      18. Finlay Bealham
      19. Ryan Baird
      20. Jack Conan
      21. Conor Murray
      22. Joey Carbery
      23. Michael Lowry

      * – denotes uncapped player

      ADVERTISEMENT

      South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

      Argentina vs Australia | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

      Saitama Wildknights vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

      The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

      The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

      Boks Office | Episode 40 | The Steven Kitshoff Special

      Perry Baker in the house | HSBC Life on Tour | Los Angeles

      Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      1 Comment
      r
      rod 1051 days ago

      Good side expect a torrid game from the Maori team who have plenty of players looking to crack the ABs

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Features

      Comments on RugbyPass

      S
      Solenn Bonnet 1 day ago
      Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

      My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

      CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

      EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

      WhatsApp.. +15617263697

      website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

      Telegram.. +15617263697

      0 Go to comments
      TRENDING
      TRENDING Lion one of 7 internationals leaving Gloucester in 19-player exodus Lion one of 7 internationals leaving Gloucester in 19-player exodus
      Search