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Rieko Edward Ioane (; born 18 March 1997) is a New Zealand
rugby union Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...
player who plays as a
centre Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentricity ...
or
wing A wing is a type of fin that produces both Lift (force), lift and drag while moving through air. Wings are defined by two shape characteristics, an airfoil section and a planform (aeronautics), planform. Wing efficiency is expressed as lift-to-d ...
for the
Blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...
in Super Rugby and
Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...
in the Bunnings NPC. He plays for
New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
at international level.


Early life

Rieko Edward Ioane was born on 18 March 1997 in
Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...
, the son of Sandra Wihongi and Eddie Ioane. He and his parents migrated to
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
during his early life after his father got a job playing professional
rugby union Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...
in the country for Ricoh Black Rams. Growing up in New Zealand, he attended
University of Auckland The University of Auckland (; Māori: ''Waipapa Taumata Rau'') is a public research university based in Auckland, New Zealand. The institution was established in 1883 as a constituent college of the University of New Zealand. Initially loc ...
and
Auckland Grammar School Auckland Grammar School (often simplified to Auckland Grammar, or Grammar), established in 1869, is a State school, state, Day school, day and Boarding school, boarding secondary school for Single-sex education, boys in Auckland, New Zealand. ...
. While at secondary school, Ioane was chosen to play for Grammar first XV at the age of sixteen. He spent two years representing the side. He is the younger brother of
Māori All Blacks The Māori All Blacks, previously called the New Zealand Maori, New Zealand Maoris and New Zealand Natives, are a rugby union team from New Zealand. They are a representative team of the New Zealand Rugby Union, and a prerequisite for playing is ...
, Blues, Auckland and
New Zealand Sevens The New Zealand national rugby sevens team competes in the World Rugby Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens, Summer Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games. They have won a record 14 World Rugby Sevens Series titles. The team played for the ...
team-mate
Akira Ioane Akira Ioane (born 16 June 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a flanker or number 8 for in the Japan Rugby League One competition. He previously played for in New Zealand's National Provincial Championship and ...
. Their parents were also rugby players, with father Eddie Ioane a former Samoan international lock who represented the country at the
1991 Rugby World Cup The 1991 Rugby World Cup () was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France: at the time, the five European countries who participated in the Six Nations Championship, Five Na ...
and mother Sandra Wihongi a former lock for the
Black Ferns The New Zealand women's rugby union team, called the Black Ferns (), represents New Zealand in women's international rugby union, which is regarded as the country's national sport. The team has won six out of nine Women's Rugby World Cup tour ...
internationally. At 17 years old, Ioane made his Sevens debut at the 2015 Wellington Sevens tournament and only a year later he was part of the New Zealand Sevens Team competing at the
2016 Summer Olympics The 2016 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXXI Olympiad () and officially branded as Rio 2016, were an international multi-sport event held from 5 to 21 August 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with preliminary events i ...
. Ioane won the award for All Blacks Sevens Player of The Year later in the year, at the NZ Rugby Awards on 15 December 2016.


Professional career


2015–17

Ioane was signed for Auckland in 2015 and the Blues in 2016, instantly becoming regular starters for both teams at outside centre. Ioane was just 17 years old when he made his debut for Auckland, becoming one of the youngest players to be selected at a Provincial level in New Zealand. Ioane was called up to the senior
New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
squad for the
2016 Rugby Championship The 2016 Rugby Championship was the fifth edition of the annual southern hemisphere The Rugby Championship, Rugby Championship, featuring Argentina national rugby union team, Argentina, Australia national rugby union team, Australia, South Africa ...
as injury cover for
Waisake Naholo Waisake Ratunideuba Naholo (born 8 May 1991 Sigatoka, Fiji) is a New Zealand rugby union player. He previously played for the All Blacks Sevens and on the wing (and occasionally centre) position for London Irish. In May 2022 he signed with Rug ...
after Naholo tore his hamstring against
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
. Ioane made his debut during the end of the year tour off the bench against
Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
on 12 November 2016, replacing
Israel Dagg Israel Jamahl Akuhata Dagg (born 6 June 1988) is a former New Zealand rugby union player who played for the Crusaders in Super Rugby. He has also played for the New Zealand Sevens team, and represents Hawkes Bay in the ITM Cup. Dagg played i ...
in the 50th minute. He scored his first try for the All Blacks in the 73rd minute to help them to a 68-10 victory. Making his debut at the age of 19 years and 239 days, Rieko Ioane became the eighth youngest All Blacks Test debutant. Ioane was not named in the squad to play against Ireland the following week, but came off the bench in the next game against France to replace Ryan Crotty in the 44th minute, in front of 78500 people. Ioane opened the 2017 Super Rugby season's first game with a hat-trick against the
Melbourne Rebels The Melbourne Rebels were an Australian professional rugby union team based in Melbourne, Victoria (state), Victoria that competed in the Super Rugby competition. The Rebels made their debut in SANZAAR, SANZAR's Super Rugby tournament in 2011. T ...
. Ioane was one of the highest try-scorers of the 2017 Super Rugby season, leading the Blues with 10 tries. Following
Sonny Bill Williams Sonny William Williams (born 3 August 1985) is a New Zealand heavyweight boxer, and a former professional rugby league and rugby union player. He is only the second person to represent New Zealand in rugby union after first playing for the cou ...
' long-awaited return to rugby from an injured achilles in 2017, Ioane was shifted to the left wing for the Blues halfway through the season to accommodate for Williams starting at inside centre and George Moala moving to outside centre. Ioane was named to start on the left wing in the Blues' historic match against the
British & Irish Lions The British & Irish Lions is a rugby union team selected from players eligible for the national teams of England national rugby union team, England, Ireland national rugby union team, Ireland, Scotland national rugby union team, Scotland, and ...
and was one of the standout players in the fixture, crossing over the try-line three times in the fixture, but two of the potential tries were ruled out so Ioane contributed only five points to a 22-16 win. Ioane was named in the All Blacks squad for the 3-test Lions series the following day. Ioane was the youngest player selected for New Zealand in the All Blacks squad to face the British & Irish Lions in 2017, the day after terrorising the Lions' defence in the Blues' 22-16 win. For the first test, Ioane was chosen over 53-test veteran
Julian Savea Sio Julian Savea (born 7 August 1990) is a New Zealand professional rugby union player. He currently plays wing or centre for Wellington in the National Provincial Championship and Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Savea formerly played for in ...
to start as the left wing. Ioane scored two tries in the second half of the match, the first, finishing off a set-move as the All Blacks shifted the ball to the left from a scrum. The second, a sublime run from the Lions' 10m line after picking the ball following the ball being dropped by Liam Williams attempting to catch a high kick, helping New Zealand to win 30-15. Ioane started in the second test, where the All Blacks were defeated 24-21. Ioane was ruled out of the third after falling ill with influenza. Ioane confirmed his spot as a regular starter throughout the
2017 Rugby Championship The 2017 Rugby Championship was the sixth edition of the expanded annual southern hemisphere The Rugby Championship, Rugby Championship, featuring Argentina national rugby union team, Argentina, Australia national rugby union team, Australia, Sout ...
and displaced Savea in the entire squad, being awarded Man of the Match against Australia on 26 August and finished the tournament as the joint-highest try-scorer with Australian fullback
Israel Folau Israel ‘Isileli Folau (; born 3 April 1989) is a professional dual-code rugby player who plays as a fullback for Japan Rugby League One club Urayasu D-Rocks. Born in Australia, he represents Tonga at international level after qualifying ...
. Ioane scored his fifth of the tournament in the 25-24 win over South Africa, intercepting the ball from 80 metres, outpacing the Springboks defence to score. He was only subbed off once in 2017, being replaced by debutant David Havili with nine minutes left in the second test against Argentina during the Rugby Championship. Ioane clearly established himself as New Zealand's first-choice left winger on the 2017 end-of-year tour, having great games against France and Scotland, earning himself nominations for World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year and
World Rugby Player of the Year The World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year is an award presented annually by World Rugby at the World Rugby Awards. It is given to honour "the achievements of those involved at the highest level of the world game on the field". First presente ...
, the latter of which he was up against teammate
Beauden Barrett Beauden John Barrett (born 27 May 1991) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a First five-eighth or Fullback for the Blues in Super Rugby and Taranaki in the Bunnings NPC. Barrett won the World Rugby Player of the Year awards ...
for. Ioane's 2017 season was thought to be over after a shoulder injury sustained at training, but he was named to start in the final test of 2017 against Wales. Ioane scored two tries in the test and also set one up for Anton Lienert-Brown, winning his second Man of the Match award for 2017 after the All Blacks won 33-18. Ioane won Breakthrough Player of the Year the following day, but lost World Player of the Year to Barrett. At the 2017 New Zealand rugby awards, Ioane was named the Tom French Memorial Māori player of the year.


2018

As of week 16 of the
2018 Super Rugby season The 2018 Super Rugby season was the 23rd season of Super Rugby, an annual rugby union competition organised by SANZAAR between teams from Argentina, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa. After two seasons in which 18 teams participate ...
, Ioane has scored seven tries in the competition. With the exception of the Blues' defeat to the Rebels on 2 June 2018, Ioane has played the full 80 minutes of every game for the Blues during the 2018 Super Rugby season. Despite being used out of position at Inside Centre multiple times during the season, Ioane was still the Blues' highest try-scorer in 2018, scoring 10 tries. His outstanding form in Super Rugby saw him retain his place as a regular starter for the All Blacks during the 2018 Steinlager series against France. On 9 June 2018, Ioane scored two tries against France during the second half of the All Blacks' 52-11 victory at Eden Park. His second try, in the 74th minute, was intercepted from the French reserve hooker
Adrien Pélissié Adrien Pélissié (born 7 August 1990) is a French rugby union player. His position is hooker and he currently plays for Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14 The Top 14 () is a professional rugby union club competition that is played in Fran ...
80m out from the tryline. Although French winger Teddy Thomas almost caught up to Ioane, Ioane still managed to score. Ioane played the full 80 minutes of the second test, on 16 June and had an outstanding defensive performance, although he failed to make the same impact on attack, with reserve first-five-eighth
Damian McKenzie Damian Sinclair McKenzie (born 20 April 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a First five-eighth or Fullback for the All Blacks, as well as the Chiefs in Super Rugby and Waikato in the Bunnings NPC. Early life McKenzie was ...
finding it difficult to control the game and distribute the ball to Ioane. On 23 June 2018, having already been phenomenal defensively during the first half, Ioane scored the first hat-trick of his international career, in the second half of the final test of the Steinlager series, as the All Blacks beat France 3-0 in the series, winning the final test 49-14 at the
Forsyth Barr Stadium Forsyth Barr Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand. At various stages of development it was also known as Dunedin Stadium or Awatea Street Stadium, or its non-commercial official name during the 2011 Rugby World Cup and 2 ...
in Dunedin. Ioane was the first All Black to score a hat-trick in over two years, when former All Black
Julian Savea Sio Julian Savea (born 7 August 1990) is a New Zealand professional rugby union player. He currently plays wing or centre for Wellington in the National Provincial Championship and Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Savea formerly played for in ...
scored the final hat-trick of his career against France when the All Blacks beat them 62-13 during the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Ioane scored his three tries against France in the space of only 12 minutes, with Damian McKenzie setting Ioane up for his first and third, while Vice-Captain Ben Smith set Ioane up for his second. Ioane managed to beat four French defenders when he scored his first try, despite the defenders being in front of Ioane. Ioane finished the Steinlager series having played the full 80 minutes of all three tests against France, as well as the highest try-scorer of the competition. Ioane lost out on the award for Man of the Match to outstanding lock Scott Barrett. Although he missed two games in the competition, due to injury, Ioane was the leading try-scorer of the 2018 Rugby Championship, scoring 5 tries in the competition. Ioane shared the title with All Black team-mate,
Beauden Barrett Beauden John Barrett (born 27 May 1991) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a First five-eighth or Fullback for the Blues in Super Rugby and Taranaki in the Bunnings NPC. Barrett won the World Rugby Player of the Year awards ...
, as well as South African winger, Aphiwe Dyantyi. Scoring doubles against Argentina and South Africa, Ioane bought his international try tally to 21 tries, from only 20 tests. Ioane played in four tests during the All Blacks' end-of-year tour in 2018, including the third Bledisloe Cup test against Australia, where he was named Man of The Match.


2019

Ioane was once again retained in the All Blacks' squad, for the
2019 Rugby Championship The 2019 Rugby Championship was the eighth edition of the annual southern hemisphere The Rugby Championship, Rugby Championship, featuring Argentina national rugby union team, Argentina, Australia national rugby union team, Australia, South Afric ...
. Having featured in the All Blacks' 16-16 draw with South Africa, Ioane, as well as Ben Smith and Owen Franks, went on to perform poorly in a record 26-47 defeat to Australia, where Scott Barrett had already been red-carded. Ioane missed the second Bledisloe Cup test of 2019 injured, which saw him and Smith replaced by rookie wingers,
Sevu Reece Sevuloni Lasei Reece (born 13 February 1997) is a Fijian born New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Crusaders in Super Rugby and Southland in the Bunnings NPC. Born in Fiji, he represents New Zealand at international level a ...
and
George Bridge George Crispin Bridge (born 1 April 1995) is a New Zealand people, New Zealand Rugby Union, rugby union player who currently plays as an Wing (rugby union), outside back for Montpellier Hérault Rugby, Montpellier in France's domestic Top 14. ...
, with
Beauden Barrett Beauden John Barrett (born 27 May 1991) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a First five-eighth or Fullback for the Blues in Super Rugby and Taranaki in the Bunnings NPC. Barrett won the World Rugby Player of the Year awards ...
moved to fullback. On 28 August, All Blacks Head Coach,
Steve Hansen Sir Stephen William Hansen and High Chief of Vaiala, (born 7 May 1959) is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player. He is also the father of Black Ferns assistant coach, Whitney Hansen. He was the head coach of the New Zealand na ...
, named Ioane as one of 31 players in New Zealand's squad for the
2019 Rugby World Cup The 2019 Rugby World Cup () was the ninth edition of the Rugby World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for men's rugby union teams. It was hosted in Japan from 20 September to 2 November in 12 venues all across the country. The opening matc ...
. However, due to the incredible form of Reece and Bridge, Ioane only featured once in the pool stages, scoring his only try of the competition in a 63-0 win over Canada. Ioane later went on to feature in the Bronze Final against Wales, with New Zealand having lost 7-19 to England. New Zealand claimed third place, beating Wales 40-17.


2020

In 2020, Ioane represented the
North Island The North Island ( , 'the fish of Māui', historically New Ulster) is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but less populous South Island by Cook Strait. With an area of , it is the List ...
in the 2020 North vs South rugby union match.


2021

In 2021 Ioane helped the Blues win the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition. In 2021 he played 13 tests for the All Blacks and scored 5 tries.


2022

In 2022, Ioane was a key part of the Blues squad that helped them reach the final of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific. Although they would go on to lose to the Crusaders at
Eden Park Eden Park is a sports venue in Auckland, New Zealand. It is located three kilometres southwest of the Auckland CBD, on the boundary between the suburbs of Mount Eden and Kingsland. The main stadium has a nominal capacity of 50,000, and is s ...
.


2023

On 16th April 2023, New Zealand Rugby announced they had re-signed Rieko Ioane until the end of the 2027.


2025

On 16 April 2025, it was confirmed that Ioane would join Irish province
Leinster Leinster ( ; or ) is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in the southeast of Ireland. The modern province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige, which existed during Gaelic Ireland. Following the 12th-century ...
in the URC competition where he will take a sabbatical from New Zealand Rugby for the 2025-26 season.


Statistics

Updated: 21 June 2022 Source:''
Rieko E Ioane Rugby History
/small>


List of international test tries

Updated: 22 September 2024 Source:''

/small>


Honours

New Zealand *
Rugby World Cup The Men's Rugby World Cup is a rugby union tournament contested every four years between the top international teams, the winners of which are recognised as the World championship, world champions of the sport. The tournament is administer ...
/
Webb Ellis Cup The Webb Ellis Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner of the men's Rugby World Cup, the premier competition in men's international rugby union. The Cup is named after William Webb Ellis, who is often credited as being the inventor of rugby foot ...
**Third place:
2019 This was the year in which the first known human case of COVID-19 was documented, preceding COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic which was declared by the World Health Organization the following year. Up to that point, 2019 had been described as ...
; Individual ;* 2x
World Rugby Player of the Year The World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year is an award presented annually by World Rugby at the World Rugby Awards. It is given to honour "the achievements of those involved at the highest level of the world game on the field". First presente ...
nominee: 2017, 2018 Blues Super Rugby Pacific Champions: 2024


References


External links

*
archive
* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ioane, Rieko 1997 births New Zealand rugby union players New Zealand sportspeople of Samoan descent Rugby union wings Rugby union centres Rugby union players from Auckland Blues (Super Rugby) players Auckland rugby union players New Zealand male rugby sevens players People educated at Auckland Grammar School Māori All Blacks players Rugby sevens players at the 2016 Summer Olympics Olympic rugby sevens players for New Zealand New Zealand international rugby sevens players Ngāpuhi people Te Whānau-ā-Apanui people Ponsonby RFC players Living people New Zealand international rugby union players New Zealand expatriates in Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup players 2023 Rugby World Cup players 21st-century New Zealand sportsmen