Ioane burst on the sevens scene in 2014 and has since shown all the attributes that could make him a world class player. With a considerable size and blistering pace, Ioane will trouble any defence.
Originally from Auckland, the loose forward and his brother Reiko have become regular additions to the New Zealand 7's squad. After a stellar season with the Blues in Super Rugby in 2015, he represented the U20 New Zealand side that won the Junior World Cup in Italy, that same year he would represent the Moari All Black.
In 2016 Ioane represented New Zealand in the Wellington and Sydney 7's, joining up with the Blues for Super Rugby. Ioane had an outstanding 2017 as he featured in all 15 of the Blues Super Rugby matches and played a full 80 minutes for the Maori All Blacks and Blues against the British and Irish Lions.
He also represented the Maori All Blacks against Canada and the French Barbarians before being called into the All Blacks squad to face the France XV. He heads into the 2018 season looking to make further strides towards a Test debut having represented the Blues 32 times in Super Rugby scoring 5 tries. Ioane had an outstanding Super Rugby season featuring in all 16 of the Blues matches and at the end of the season was named as the Blues MVP and Player's Player of the Year.
In September, Ioane signed a new deal with New Zealand Rugby, the Blues and Auckland through to 2021. In the opening round of the 2019 Super Rugby season, Akira played his 50th game for the Blues club before again featuring in every match of the season.
April 2019 saw Ioane become the only uncapped player named in the All Blacks’ first extended squad ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. He began the 2020 season with 65 Blues caps and a point to prove, given the departure of several high profile All Blacks loose forwards.
Ioane had an outstanding 2020 Super Rugby and Super Rugby Aotearoa season with a positional swop to the blindside flank being effective for Akira as he received a call up to the All Black squad where he will look to earn his first test cap.
Career
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Blues Blindside Flanker |
2015 - present |
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Auckland No. 8 |
2015 - present |
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North Island Blindside Flanker |
2020 - present |
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New Zealand U20's Blindside Flanker |
2015 - 2015 |
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New Zealand 7's Blindside Flanker |
2014 - 2016 |
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Maori All Blacks Blindside Flanker |
2015 - 2020 |
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Auckland Grammar School Blindside Flanker |
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Ponsonby Rugby Club Blindside Flanker |
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New Zealand Blindside Flanker |
2017 - 2023 |
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All Blacks XV Openside Flanker |
2023 - 2024 |
