Counties Manukau Steelers Ranfurly Shield-winning midfielder Bundee Aki’s future remains up in the air but he has given his strongest hint yet that he is keen to stay in Ireland.
The former Patumahoe, Karaka, Steelers and Chiefs midfield back moved to Ireland in 2014 and linked up with Connacht – a place he describes as being similar to Counties Manukau.
He became the first British and Irish Lions representative from Connacht in 39 years and has made himself into a fan favourite.
But with speculation linking him to other overseas moves next year, Aki described in detail his love affair with the Galway area and why he would be quite happy extending his stay.
“To be fairly honest, I’m a person that when someone does so much for you and your family, they deserve the best from you,” he told the Irish Times.
“It is good business for me but what they’ve given to me and my family, the lifestyle that we have over here in Galway, I don’t know if I’d get the same treatment somewhere else, do you know what I mean?
“The love and the care that Connacht and the community have given to me and my family has been second to none. The only way for me, I think, to repay Connacht for is to give them my best performances and my best years of rugby, and encourage what they’re trying to promote with Connacht rugby in the near future.
“I want to be a part of that. I want Connacht people to know that you don’t have to go anywhere else, you can do it here in Galway and Connacht, and more kids playing for Connacht because of the likes of myself or John Muldoon and all those who come through the grades, who are inspired to be like one of us, then it’s only going to be good for Connacht. That’s one of the main reasons I’ve stayed with Connacht.
“For me to do as little as a high five, say hello or pose for a photo, goes such a long way with those kids, and that’s exactly what I try to do and hope to do in the future.”
In all, the 31-year-old is now into his eighth season in Ireland. He has played over 100 matches for Connacht, 33 tests for Ireland and one with the British and Irish Lions.
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