Last month’s French report that Toulon were lining up a big-money, end-of-season move for Bundee Aki caused major confusion and concern for Connacht and Ireland supporters.
At the time, it was reported that Aki was actually contracted until 2026 rather than 2025, as the IRFU had triggered an extension clause in the powerful centre’s deal.
That doesn’t mean that Toulon won’t make a play — which would cost a release fee — for Aki next summer, by which stage he will have turned 35. While he wasn’t willing to say much about his long-term future, he did confirm the story that his current contract runs until the end of next season, not the current one.
“The situation right now is to play for Connacht, to play with Ireland, that’s all I’ve got to say,” Aki said.
The emergence of Jamie Osborne, who will start at full-back against Fiji on Saturday, would somewhat ease the potential blow of losing Aki, who remains a key part of Andy Farrell’s immediate plans.
Bundee Aki admits he failed to perform against New Zealand
Having been left out of the team for last week’s win over Argentina, Aki is recalled to the midfield for Saturday’s Aviva Stadium clash, and he’s determined to make up for what was, by his own high standards, a poor showing in the defeat to New Zealand a fortnight ago.
“It’s a healthy, honest relationship with Faz,” Aki said of his conversation with Farrell after being dropped last week. “You take it on the chin. You’ve just got to be better and to nullify your mistakes and to be a better person and to be a better rugby player.
“I think it’s tough for anyone. It’s always a challenge, but you put that aside and you put the team first. I had a different role last week, which was to prepare the boys for the game, and I enjoyed that. It was good to see them thrive, the way they played last week.
“Our group of centres, we’re such a tight group that whoever is playing or not playing, we’re out there to help each other out and put our best foot forward because these days anything can happen.
“You’re always willing to make sure you’re ready, regardless of whatever [role] it is.”
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A key part of Aki’s brief on Saturday will be dealing with the inevitable heavy traffic that will come down Sam Prendergast’s ‘10’ channel as the sensational Racing 92 midfielder Josua Tuisova looks to punch holes in the Irish defence.
Aki is relishing the chance to link up with Prendergast for the first time.
“He’s a great young kid who is taking all his opportunities. He’s learning loads. He’s got his own flair for the game and he’s only going to get better and grow as a player,” Aki said of Ireland’s 21-year-old out-half, who will make his first Test start after coming off the bench for his debut last week.
“He’s a tall little young fella anyway, that’s for sure! He’s got a lot of skills in his armoury,” acknowledged Aki.
“He’s real calm. It’s like he’s in his own little world. It’s like he’s playing backyard footy. In training, some of the stuff he comes up with is unbelievable. You look forward to seeing those young fellows relish those opportunities and backing them 100 per cent.”
Sam Prendergast has impressed for Ireland
Despite ringing the changes for the Fiji clash, Farrell will be looking for a more complete 80-minute performance, with Aki’s midfield influence central to that.
“I think we have high standards for each other. We have high standards as a group, and we know for a fact, I know for a fact, [that] speaking from my own experience from the New Zealand game, that it just wasn’t good enough,” Aki maintained
“That’s the standards you put on yourself and the team. You want to play at a high level, and that’s what the coaches expect of us. We know what we’re capable of and what we’re able to deliver.
“You try to relish all these opportunities that you get. It’s not often that you get the chance to pull on the green jersey and it’s not pressure. You try to enjoy those moments and relish those opportunities you get.
“Whenever I get a chance or whatever chance I get in the Irish jersey, I always try to take those opportunities as much as I can.”
Aki officially became an Irish citizen in September, a significant moment that is not lost on a man that has embedded himself and his family in Galway since first arriving from New Zealand in 2014.
“It’s an unbelievable privilege and unbelievable honour to be able to get that citizenship. It doesn’t change me as a person. I’ll still be the same person, but it’s an honour and it’s a privilege,” he said.
Connacht and Ireland fans will be hoping that Toulon’s interest cools and that they still get to watch Aki line out in both green jerseys next season.