monty loane

Montanna Wilson Ioane, born on October 30, 1994, in Melbourne, Australia, is a professional rugby union player. He is of Samoan and Fijian heritage. Ioane developed an early interest in rugby, returning to the sport at age 12 after an initial break. At 16, he relocated to Brisbane, Queensland, to attend Anglican Church Grammar School on a scholarship, where he further developed his rugby capabilities. His uncle, former Wallabies player Digby Ioane, played a role in his decision to pursue a career in rugby. This early exposure to professional rugby environments set the foundation for his international career.

Ioane began his professional career in Europe at age 18, joining Stade Français in Paris, France, in 2013, where he played for their U21 squad. He gained experience playing in the French Top 14 competition during the 2014-15 season. In 2015, he moved to New Zealand, where he was recruited by the Chiefs in Super Rugby and joined their developmental squad, participating in pre-season games. He also played for Tasman Mako in the second-tier Championship during the 2015 ITM Cup. Subsequently, Ioane joined the Bay of Plenty Steamers, featuring in the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup and the 2017 season, where Bay of Plenty reached the Championship finals.

His performances in New Zealand attracted the attention of Antonio Pavanello, the sporting director for Benetton Rugby. Ioane signed with the Italian side in November 2017, making his return to Europe for the 2017-18 Pro14 season. He extended his contract with Benetton until 2022, a move that allowed him to become eligible for the Italian national team through residency rules. Ioane received his first invitation to the Italian national team camp in July 2020 and officially joined the squad in December 2020, eventually making his Test debut for Italy during the Autumn Nations Cup against Wales. He played for Benetton until September 2022 and was named in Italy’s 33-man squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.