LAST UPDATE | 17 Dec 2024
THE IRFU HAS officially confirmed that Connacht centre Bundee Aki has signed a one-year extension to his national contract until the end of the 2025/26 campaign.
34-year-old Aki had been linked with a move to French rugby at the end of this season but he and the IRFU have exercised the one-year option on his national deal – also known as a ‘central contract’ – to ensure he will remain with Connacht.
Leinster and Ireland lock James Ryan has also signed a three-year extension to his existing national-contract deal.
The 28-year-old has pledged his future to province and country until the end of the 2027/28 campaign.
Confirmation of Aki and Ryan’s extensions followed yesterday’s announcement by the IRFU that Leinster and Ireland props Tadhg Furlong and Andrew Porter have signed new national contracts until the end of the 2026/27 season.
Midfielder Aki continues to be a key man in Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad, having featured in three of their recent November Tests.
IRFU performance director David Humphreys highlighted Aki’s importance to Connacht and Ireland as he welcomed this new deal.
“Bundee has displayed a consistently high level of performance for club and country in recent years and we are delighted to extend his deal,” said Humphreys.
“We believe that Bundee has a lot more to offer on the field and has a big role in helping to develop the next batch of exciting youngsters out West in Connacht and within the wider Ireland panel.”
Aki expressed his excitement about getting the deal done.
“I am delighted to extend my contract with the IRFU and am excited about competing for Ireland and Connacht for the coming seasons,” said Aki.
“I love playing rugby in Ireland and believe that this is the right environment for me to progress as a player. I would like to thank the IRFU for their support and I’m excited for what the future holds in green in the years ahead.”
Second row Ryan has become an integral part of his provincial and national setups over the last seven seasons, winning 67 Test caps and representing Leinster on 89 occasions.
Ryan started three of Ireland’s November internationals.
“I’m delighted to sign a new contract with Leinster and commit my long-term future to the IRFU,” Ryan said.
“Playing in ambitious set-ups is a big driver for me personally and I know how committed everyone in Irish rugby is to work hard and achieve success.
“It’s a privilege to play for my home province and my country and, with the talent coming through the academy systems, I’m excited about what the future holds in blue and green.”
Speaking of Ryan’s retention, David Humphreys described the second row as “a mainstay of the Leinster and Ireland engine rooms over the last number of seasons” and said it was “a huge boost for both teams” that the former Ireland U20s captain would remain in the country.
“James has displayed consistency and talent for many years which, allied to his leadership skills, means that Ireland has successfully retained another important player within our system,” Humphreys added.
“We believe that James’ best years are ahead of him and look forward to watching him progress in the seasons to come.”
Munster we’re beaten in every facet bar probably the scrum! Very unlike the thomand park munster! They were very poor! Lacked drive and couldn’t match clermonts intensity
Munster out muscled by a better team. They don’t need their irish partners. They needed each other tonight and were lacking the killer instinct we assocuate with them . It hapoens from time to time. Some team if they can claw their way back but here’s hoping.
I know we were out muscled in the match , but come on Barnes didn’t help.
What exactly did he do that hurt us so badly? We fekked up 3 separate rolling mauls by dropping the ball. We lost multiple lineouts. We kicked out on the full and past the dead ball.
Except for 1-2 instances of offside whay exactly did Barnes do that has all our fans up in arms.
Chouly certainly played a captains part. He displayed leadership sorely lacking in the Munster side.
F##k off robsonkeane you wouldn’t know rugby if it hit you in the face!
Munsters where beaten by a fair and square put I won’t take any s##t talk by the likes of you.
You’ve Never been inside the gate of thomond, RDS, sports ground or raven hill .
Get back into your cave!
I don’t know why yer man above mr has red thumbs. Robson green is a throll FFs and on English apps like score he gets barred after few annoyin comments. This all was good months ago
Munster to unleash the fury in France
Delighted for you Flash Gordon/ Elrat.
How is caravan living working out for you ?
Very very hard for the lads to readjust after the Autumn Internationals. Murray needed Sexton, OConnell needed Toner, Zebo needed Kearney etc…etc Bowe, Best, etc. Let’s see how Leinster do tomorrow without their Munster and Ulster counterparts. Its a very tough transition. Well done Munster.
Bollox
That’s a heap of horse manure range
Total shiteee
I hope so lads.
There’s always some takers! Well done.
Range rover did you only start watching rugby yesterday!
When Poc needs tonner for back up we know Irish rugby is truly F##ked!
Sean, do you suggest POC plays in second row by himself? Moron.
No but to suggest POC was lost with out Tonner is truly moronic
What I thought was interesting was that the forwards who were taking the ball up in the 1st half from a one of pass from Murray were the forwards you would not associate with carrying ie Botha Casey and O Connell ( because every defender recognises him as the man to target for the “big hit”)
I think I only saw Stander carry the ball once in the 1st half !
In the second half Munster pounded Clermont into their own 22 with carries from the more productive forwards of Cronin, Stander, O’Donnell and Foley.
Anyone else notice this ?
Beaten out the gate..even though we were only 10 behind with the elements at our back for the second half. From the off we should have kicked a nasty grubber to the corner to put them under pressure. .no a nice kick to their guys who had us back on our 25 straight away. When our set plays failed..we should have returned to type.
No one pressed the button !
Munster to do a job on clermont in stade Michelin … I hope
It was wet, it was messy and munster didn’t kick enough.
Munster didn’t kick enough what planet are you on. They kicked too much ball and did it very badly. Absolute rubbish from Munster no shape ponderous attack predictable bulls**t . Players shoulder some blame coaches sent them out with a crap game plan and no plan b. It’s 2014 Axel not 2006 where you had a dominant pack and tactical genius