Latest news with #Bundee
Extra.ie
5 days ago
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Irish players dominate Lions starting XV vs Australia
Andy Farrell has named eight Irish players in his starting XV for the Lions' First Test against Australia in Brisbane this weekend. Three more Irish stars have been named on the bench but Josh van der Flier is unlucky to miss out and will have to watch on from the sidelines. Unsurprisingly, Hugo Keenan takes the full-back spot, while James Lowe slots into left wing and Jamison Gibson-Park steps up at scrum-half. Josh van der Flier just about misses out on a place in the squad. Pic:Tadhg Furlong has been an ever-present at the last two Test series stretching back to 2017 and this will continue on Saturday. He is joined by Dan Sheehan in the forward line, with Joe McCarthy behind him, Tadhg Beirne as blindside flanker and Jack Conan at number eight. Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter and Bundee Aki are all set to appear off the bench. Finn Russell starts at number 10. Pic:Bundee has likely missed out on a starting spot due to Garry Ringrose being ruled out with a concussion. Andy Farrell has instead opted for a stronger connection between the centres by pairing Huw Jones with his Scotland teammate Sione Tuipulotu. Huw Jones will partner his Scottish teammate Sione Tuipulotu at centre. Pic:The Lions boss told a news conference: 'There's absolutely no doubt that Bundee can play with Huw, and he's obviously played with Sione as well, but it's just making sure that we get the right balance of the impact that we need at any given time.' The only other Scotsman in the starting XV is Finn Russell at number 10. Four English players make up the rest of the team with Tommy Freeman in the right wing slot and Ellis Genge, captain Maro Itoje and Tom Curry joining the Irish forwards. Jack Conan will line out at number 8. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan Andy added: 'It is a great occasion and a proud moment for Maro Itoje, who will captain the Test side, but also for those players who get the opportunity to represent the group on Saturday night.' The Lions will be without Welsh representation in a Test for the first time since the 19th century due to the omission of the Welsh squad member, Jac Morgan. The head coach explained: '(Jac) was as close as you can imagine. Look, you're actually gutted for players like that who…could well easily be in this side on Saturday. Andy Farrell had to make some tough choices. Pic: William West/AFP via Getty Images 'The combination of Tadhg's (Beirne) quality in the set piece and his all-around ability, either on the floor as a jackal or a ball-playing six. That complements Jack (Conan) also in a similar regard, with Tom being the engine that we all know.' The rest of the bench is filled out by five English players: Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell and Marcus Smith. The highly-anticipated First Test will kick-off at 11am Irish time in Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, July 19. British and Irish Lions: Hugo Keenan (Ireland); Tommy Freeman (England), Huw Jones (Scotland), Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland), James Lowe (Ireland); Finn Russell (Scotland), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland); Ellis Genge (England), Dan Sheehan (Ireland), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland); Maro Itoje (c) (England), Joe McCarthy (Ireland); Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Tom Curry (England), Jack Conan (Ireland). Replacements: Rónan Kelleher (Ireland), Andrew Porter (Ireland), Will Stuart (England), Ollie Chessum (England), Ben Earl (England), Alex Mitchell (England), Marcus Smith (England), Bundee Aki (Ireland). Australia: Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter, Tom Lynagh, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, Matt Faessler, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (c). Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway.
Reuters
6 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Wales locked out of Lions as Curry named to start first test
BRISBANE, July 17 (Reuters) - Tom Curry was named at openside flanker in the British & Irish Lions team for the first test against Australia on Saturday, ensuring the tourists would field a test team without a Welshman for the first time since the late 19th century. Welsh hopes of a presence in the side had rested on poacher Jac Morgan but coach Andy Farrell preferred the proven quality of England's Curry in the starting side with Ben Earl and Ollie Chessum covering the loose forwards on the bench. "(Jac) was as close as you can imagine," Farrell told a news conference. "Look, you're actually gutted for players like that who ... could well easily be in this side on Saturday. But I suppose that shows the good place that we're at as a group." Farrell has gone for a conventional number eight in Jack Conan at the back of the scrum with his Ireland teammate Tadhg Beirne completing the back row at blindside flanker. "We feel that that's the right balance for the first test," Farrell said. "The combination of Tadhg's quality in the set piece and his all-around ability, either on the floor as a jackal or a ball playing six. That complements Jack also in a similar regard, with Tom being the engine that we all know." Scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park, fullback Hugo Keenan, winger James Lowe, lock Joe McCarthy, prop Tadhg Furlong and hooker Dan Sheehan complete an eight-strong Irish contingent in the starting side. There was no place for Ireland's Bundee Aki in the starting centre partnership, however, with Scotland's duo of Australian-born Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones lining up outside their test teammate Finn Russell at flyhalf. "There's absolutely no doubt that Bundee can play with Huw, and he's obviously played with Sione as well, but it's just making sure that we get the right balance of the impact that we need at any given time," Farrell said. "And I suppose those three starting, they do know each other, but they also know the way that this team wants to play." Captain Maro Itoje, right winger Tommy Freeman and prop Ellis Genge make up a four-strong English contingent with Curry but there was no place in the matchday 23 for Farrell's son Owen, who joined the tour as an injury replacement. Farrell said injured Australian-born Ireland winger Mack Hansen (foot) and Scottish fullback Blair Kinghorn (knee) were unlikely to be fit for next Tuesday's tour match against a First Nations-Pasifika XV in Melbourne. Team: 15–Hugo Keenan, 14–Tommy Freeman, 13–Huw Jones, 12–Sione Tuipulotu, 11–James Lowe, 10–Finn Russell, 9–Jamison Gibson-Park, 8–Jack Conan, 7–Tom Curry, 6–Tadhg Beirne, 5–Joe McCarthy, 4–Maro Itoje (captain), 3–Tadhg Furlong, 2–Dan Sheehan, 1–Ellis Genge Replacements: 16–Ronan Kelleher, 17–Andrew Porter, 18–Will Stuart, 19–Ollie Chessum, 20–Ben Earl, 21–Alex Mitchell, 22–Marcus Smith, 23–Bundee Aki
Daily Maverick
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
No Welshman in British & Irish Lions Test team for first time in more than 100 years
The teams for the first Test between Australia and the British & Irish Lions were named on Thursday. Tom Curry was named at openside flanker in the British & Irish Lions team for the first Test against Australia on Saturday, ensuring the tourists would field a Test team without a Welshman for the first time since the late 19th century. Welsh hopes of a presence in the side had rested on poacher Jac Morgan but coach Andy Farrell preferred the proven quality of England's Curry in the starting side with Ben Earl and Ollie Chessum covering the loose forwards on the bench. '(Jac) was as close as you can imagine,' Farrell told a news conference. 'Look, you're actually gutted for players like that who… could well easily be in this side on Saturday. But I suppose that shows the good place that we're at as a group.' Farrell has gone for a conventional number eight in Jack Conan at the back of the scrum, with his Ireland teammate Tadhg Beirne completing the back row at blindside flanker. 'We feel that that's the right balance for the first Test,' Farrell said. 'The combination of Tadhg's quality in the set piece and his all-around ability, either on the floor as a jackal or a ball-playing six. That complements Jack also in a similar regard, with Tom being the engine that we all know.' Scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park, fullback Hugo Keenan, winger James Lowe, lock Joe McCarthy, prop Tadhg Furlong and hooker Dan Sheehan complete an eight-strong Irish contingent in the starting side. There was no place for Ireland's Bundee Aki in the starting centre partnership, however, with Scotland's duo of Australian-born Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones lining up outside their Test teammate Finn Russell at flyhalf. 'There's absolutely no doubt that Bundee can play with Huw, and he's obviously played with Sione as well, but it's just making sure that we get the right balance of the impact that we need at any given time,' Farrell said. 'And I suppose those three starting, they do know each other, but they also know the way that this team wants to play.' Captain Maro Itoje, right winger Tommy Freeman and prop Ellis Genge make up a four-strong English contingent with Curry, but there was no place in the matchday 23 for Farrell's son Owen, who joined the tour as an injury replacement. Farrell said injured Australian-born Ireland winger Mack Hansen (foot) and Scottish fullback Blair Kinghorn (knee) were unlikely to be fit for next Tuesday's tour match against a First Nations-Pasifika XV in Melbourne. New-look Wallabies Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt conceded the absence of Rob Valetini for the first British & Irish Lions clash was a loss but was confident flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny would make a big impression on his test debut at Lang Park on Saturday. Powerful loose forward Valetini has been voted Australia's best Test player for the past two years but will miss a second consecutive match along with hulking lock Will Skelton, who also has a calf injury. Schmidt said the duo were right on the edge of being available for selection and would have played if it had been the last match in the series. 'Bobby has been a very regular starter for us and a big player for us, so I guess that those are the things that do happen,' Schmidt told a news conference. 'Nick has big shoes to fill. The good thing with Nick, he's a good lineout option (and) is probably a bit more of a roving scavenger than Bobby V.' Another loose forward, Langi Gleeson, was ruled out by a dead leg so Champion de Crespigny, who has just returned to Australia from France, slots into the back row with Fraser McReight and captain Harry Wilson. 'We have full confidence in Nick and what he brings, mate, he's a psycho,' openside McReight said of the 29-year-old. 'He loves contact, and he's ready to go. So, obviously, disappointed to be without Bobby. But again, super excited to get to play with Nick.' Scrumhalf Jake Gordon missed the Fiji match with a hamstring problem but returns in a halfback combination with Tom Lynagh, the son of Wallabies great Michael. Lynagh (22) will make his first test start in place of Noah Lolesio, who suffered a neck injury against Fiji and was ruled out of the series. 'I'm really excited for Tom, he's a great kid,' said Schmidt. 'He's got a quiet confidence about him. You wouldn't think that he's necessarily designed to run a game and dictate what's happening, but he does have a quiet confidence that gives us a quiet confidence as well.' James O'Connor's hopes of another Lions Test, 12 years on from starting all three Tests in 2013, have been dashed for the moment, with Ben Donaldson backing up Lynagh on the bench. Reuters/DM Teams Australia: 15–Tom Wright, 14–Max Jorgensen, 13–Joseph Suaalii, 12–Len Ikitau, 11–Harry Potter, 10–Tom Lynagh, 9–Jake Gordon, 8–Harry Wilson (captain), 7–Fraser McReight, 6–Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5–Jeremy Williams, 4–Nick Frost, 3–Allan Alaalatoa, 2–Matt Faessler, 1–James Slipper. Replacements: 16–Billy Pollard, 17–Angus Bell, 18–Tom Robertson, 19–Tom Hooper, 20–Carlo Tizzano, 21–Tate McDermott, 22–Ben Donaldson, 23–Andrew Kellaway. British & Irish Lions: 15–Hugo Keenan, 14–Tommy Freeman, 13–Huw Jones, 12–Sione Tuipulotu, 11–James Lowe, 10–Finn Russell, 9–Jamison Gibson-Park, 8–Jack Conan, 7–Tom Curry, 6–Tadhg Beirne, 5–Joe McCarthy, 4–Maro Itoje (captain), 3–Tadhg Furlong, 2–Dan Sheehan, 1–Ellis Genge
Extra.ie
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Bundee Aki's life away from the pitch - from wife and kids to Irish citizenship
Bundee Aki's set to start for the British and Irish Lions during their match against Argentina on Friday night. The New Zealand-born centre, who has been a revelation for both Connacht and Ireland, has been lauded as one of the best players in the country — being nominated as World Player of the Year in 2023. Both on and off the pitch, Bundee has support in the form of his family — with his wife and four children all residing in Galway with him. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bundee Aki (@bundeeaki) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bundee Aki (@bundeeaki) Bundee and his wife Kayla wed in their native New Zealand in 2018, two years after he was a part of the Connacht team that won the Pro12. The couple have three daughters, Armani-Jade, Adrianna and Ailbhe, as well as a son called Adronicus — with three of the kids being born at home after Kayla had a poor experience with the birth of eldest Armani-Jade. The couple also revealed that they were expecting their fifth child earlier this month in an adorable photo on Instagram where Kayla showed off her baby bump. Bundee regularly shares his family on social media, and shared an adorable photo of himself, Kayla and the kids after the country won back-to-back Six Nations championships last year. Bundee Aki and his wife Kayla share four children together, with a fifth on the way. Pic: INPHO/Andrew Downes While there have been plenty of honorary Irishmen and women over the years (Jack Charlton being the most famous example), Bundee revealed last year that he was one of over 3,000 people who became Irish citizens, getting the passport to boot. Speaking on his citizenship, Bundee told the Late Late Show that the decision to join Connacht, which ultimately changed his life, didn't come lightly. 'Obviously, at the time it was a big decision,' he said. 'It wasn't an easy one — I obviously had to talk to a few close family members, close friends and coaches. I had a small family at the time, my wife and two kids and the youngest one was three years old, so to get the call from Pat Lam to come over here and offer an opportunity… I knew I had to give it everything I got.' Bundee became an Irish citizen last October, over 10 years after he joined Connacht. Pic: Courtesy of RTÉ News 'That's one thing I made sure I stood by, to give it everything for my family and for Connacht. It's been 10 years now and I've enjoyed every single bit of it. It doesn't even feel like 10 years — more like two or three years.' 10 years after joining Connacht, he became an Irish citizen — saying that he was greeted with open arms over the previous decade by Irish people. 'It's not just what I do on or off the pitch,' Bundee said. 'The way they've treated me and my family, obviously in Galway, but around the country too, how lovely people are, how welcoming they are with me and my kids. 'You can honestly feel how proud they are, and I feel the love they've given me and for me to be able to get granted the citizenship was no better feeling than to be able to get that chance to be able to say, I can now embrace the Irish culture.'
RTÉ News
08-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Bernard Jackman: Mack Hansen's Lions pick a surprise but Andy Farrell always a fan of Irish wing
Bernard Jackman says Mack Hansen's inclusion in the Lions squad is something of a surprise but that Andy Farrell has always been a big fan of the Connacht wing. The 27-year-old Canberra native is currently sidelined with an ankle injury and has endured an injury disrupted season, having missed half of last season with a shoulder issue. He was also banned for three games in the New Year after his outburst at officials following Connacht's narrow URC loss to Leinster. Despite this Hansen has made the cut and is one of 15 Ireland players who will tour Australia for their nine-game tour this summer. After the squad was named in London this afternoon, Hansen was the Irish player picked to speak on Sky Sports with Farrell joking that it was the other coaches who picked the outspoken Aussie. "I'm lost for words, for the first time in my life, which is good for Faz to hear," said Hansen, who has scored 12 tries in 28 Ireland games. "Bundee [Aki] was meant to do [this interview] but he's minding the kids." 🗣️ "Bundee was meant to do it but he's minding the kids" Mack Hansen was "lost for words" after his British and Irish Lions inclusion 🤣 — Sky Sports (@SkySports) May 8, 2025 Speaking to RTÉ Sport, former Ireland and Leinster hooker Jackman said: "Yeah, Mack is probably a surprise. "Andy Farrell has always been a huge fan of his. He's a phenomenal player but has had a stop-start season with injury, but we know what we can do." Forwards Dan Sheehan, Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Jack Conan and Josh van der Flier are included as well as Ireland backs Bundee Aki Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe, Garry Ringrose and Hugo Keenan. Caelan Doris (above), however, misses out after undergoing surgery on a shoulder injury picked up in Saturday's Champions Cup defeat. Farrell has backed the Leinster and Ireland captain to return stronger but didn't provide any timeline for Doris' recovery. He confirmed he'd spoken to the 27-year-old. "You can imagine, he's devastated," Farrell told reporters after the announcement. "He would have definitely been in the mix, such an experienced player and leader. "It's devastating for people like that but the stories are constant in every single tour, aren't they, and sport can be cruel sometimes. "Caelan will be back bigger and stronger." Meanwhile, former Lions out-half Johnny Sexton, who was added to the coaching ticket soon after taking up a permanent role with Ireland spoke about his involvement. "Looking after the kicking side of the game," said Sexton. "Obviously, there's amazing talent picked there from that point of view. I'll be there to help them out wherever I can. It's a short tour, so being able to change too much won't be a thing. "I'll be there. I've experienced a lot as a kicker, I've experienced a lot as a player. "Being able to pass on my experience to these players is something I'm really passionate about." As expected, Sam Prendergast missed out on selection. Jackman says the 22-year-old will have more opportunities to impress. "He's so young, he has potentially three Lions tours ahead of him. So has Jack Crowley, they all have time on their side."
