Rieko Ioane

Rieko Ioane is an accomplished rugby player with a career spanning New Zealand representative teams and international competitions. After captaining the New Zealand Schools team in 2014, Rieko Ioane quickly established himself as a formidable force in international rugby. His professional career began early with his All Blacks Sevens debut at just 17 in 2015, culminating in his representation of New Zealand at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Ioane signed with Auckland in 2015 and the Blues in 2016, rapidly becoming a regular starter at outside center for both teams.

In November 2016, at 19 years and 239 days old, he became the eighth youngest All Blacks Test debutant, coming off the bench against Italy on the Northern Tour where he scored his first All Blacks try, contributing to a dominant 68-10 victory. Ioane continued his impressive form into the 2017 Super Rugby season, scoring a hat-trick in his opening game against the Melbourne Rebels and leading the Blues with 10 tries. His stellar performance throughout the 2017 Rugby Championship earned him nominations for World Rugby Player of the Year and the prestigious World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award, which he won. That same year, he was also named Tom French Memorial M?ori player of the year, further solidifying his status as a rising star.

Demonstrating his long-term commitment to New Zealand Rugby, Ioane re-signed with the national body until the end of 2027. Further expanding his professional experience and global reach, he is set to join Irish province Leinster on a sabbatical for the 2025-26 season, marking a significant international venture in his celebrated career.