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Rieko Ioane to join Leinster in bombshell move

Rieko Ioane leads the All Blacks' haka before Friday's clash with Ireland at the Aviva Stadium. Picture: PA

Rieko Ioane will follow in the footsteps of All Blacks teammate Jordie Barrett and play for Leinster next season.

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The 28-year-old powerhouse centre remains committed to playing for the All Blacks, with whom he has won 81 caps, but has decided to exercise the sabbatical clause in his contract that allows him to spend six months abroad.

Japan looked his likely destination, as that’s where his brother Akira plays, but obviously impressed by what Barrett has said about Ireland’s foremost province, Ioane has decided to throw his lot in with Leinster, from December 2025 to June 2026.

Ioane posted on Instagram: “What’s up fam just wanted to announce, I’ll be heading to Leinster at the end of the year on a sabbatical break. It’s an exciting opportunity to play in Ireland for an iconic team, grow my game and experience something different with my family. Will be back refreshed and ready to rock second half of 2026. Until then locked in with my blues brothers. 💙”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by R13KO IOANE (@riekoioane_)

Barrett has been a big hit in Dublin, scoring four tries in nine appearances, including a Player of the Match performance last time out in the Champions Cup 52-0 destruction of Glasgow.

Ioane’s public spat with Leinster and Ireland legend Johnny Sexton after the All Blacks knocked Ireland out of the last World Cup made him public enemy number one.

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After the final whistle sounded at Stade de France in Paris, Ioane told the veteran Sexton to enjoy retirement and not to miss his flight home and later doubled down on the comment with a cutting social media post. But all that will be forgiven if he makes anywhere near the same impact as his Test midfield partner.

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Comments

73 Comments
B
BA 35 days ago

Wonder who else gonna give it a go with their sabbatical Razor a Mark Robinson said there will be more to come…good on Reiko hope he goes meke !!

J
JW 35 days ago

Barrett looks to have finally put on some muscle for Lienster in that photo, why for them I don’t know, but I’m glad at least something good will come out of his stay there.


Should be hitting 108/110kg now?

H
Head high tackle 35 days ago

He looks just like he does every season to me. Just seems to be a dominant player in what is clearly an easier comp to dominate in. Yep they come up against a few test players in the UK but he’s done that plenty already from NZ but they come up against some weak teams and weak players too in UK comps. Large squad sizes mean they have a lot of weaker “back-up” players etc and lets face it, beating teams by 50-60plus means it isnt difficult to shine.

J
JH 35 days ago

So Leinster want a non-passing, scoring or kicking 13? Or are they going to put him and his fading pace on the wing?


If they want to keep him, not many in NZ would shed a tear.

K
Koro Teeps 35 days ago

Fading pace? He’s an X factor athlete.

J
JW 35 days ago

Doesn’t matter up North.

L
LW 36 days ago

Smart. He won't be back in black, others will take the spot but he'll get the best value.

C
CG 36 days ago

Bold move

Unlikely to get his spot back on current form

J
JH 35 days ago

He and every other AB over a certain number of tests will make the squad. Their form doesn’t seem to matter at all.

C
CC 36 days ago

This is a very surprising move. It does seem an odd fit especially after the Sexton rift but could really benefit Ioane in playing in the Leinster system with their structured attack and also the defensive knowledge he will get from Nienaber.

R
RedWarriors 35 days ago

I imagine the rift has been fixed. I don’t think the incident shone very well on Ioane or NZ rugby and I don’t see it being repeated if/when next NZ eliminate an opponent in a RWC. There must be respect.

I
IkeaBoy 36 days ago

Good lad, Rieko. Had his fill of blowing finals and getting runners up medals.

Want’s a winners medal.


Get Sexton to pick him up from the airport and explain ‘Dublin4’ to him.

H
Head high tackle 35 days ago

Does the winners medal from last years SR comp count IB? Seems you just forgot that one eh!

N
Nik 36 days ago

I think Leinster will suit him they have excellent form for blowing finals and getting runners up medals.

T
Tom 36 days ago

Uh.. don't they hate him in Leinster?

E
Ed the Duck 36 days ago

Obvs couldn’t resist the chance to check in with Johnny on how his retirement is going…🤣

Y
YeowNotEven 36 days ago

Fantastic news!

Leinster can teach the All Blacks how to get the most out of Rieko’s game like they are doing with Jordie’s.

T
TM 35 days ago

Lol! It’s Jordie Barratt bringing his All Blacks class to Leinster, have you not read the articles?

J
JWH 36 days ago

Pretty sure they’re gonna be playing differently. Different coaches, and, y’know, hemispheres.

D
DJ 36 days ago

It’s a big call for Reiko to try to be as good as Jordie has been. Anything other than better will be ridiculed with Johnny Sexton leading the orchestra.


On an aside, given the Leinster/ABs bromance, perhaps the AB (2nd) XVs can play Leinster during the Autumn Internationals as well as Munster.

R
RedWarriors 35 days ago

Leinster B are a strong cohesive team and would definitely challenge a second string 15 who have less cohesion. It would be a good choice for NZ given that Leinster should present a good array of challenges.

I
Icefarrow 36 days ago

Will be interested in seeing where they play him.

S
SM 36 days ago

He's got too much pace to play on the wing for them surely 🙃. So outside centre it'll be.

T
Tom 36 days ago

I suspect he will find himself on the wing frequently.

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