United Rugby Championship

Ageless Bundee Aki wearing his heart on his sleeve for Connacht

Published

2 months ago

25th March 2026

Ageless Bundee Aki wearing his heart on his sleeve for Connacht

BKT United Rugby Championship, Affidea Stadium, Belfast 20/3/2026 Ulster vs Connacht Connacht's Bundee Aki celebrates at the final whistle Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

Bundee Aki is ready to keep on going for as long as he can and there is certainly no sign of his powers waning.

The Connacht Rugby and Ireland centre will turn 36 next month, but he remains a mighty physical presence out on the pitch.

He confirmed that with his contribution to the Triple Crown-clinching victory over Scotland in the final round of the Six Nations and then again with a BKT URC Player of the Match display in Connacht’s statement victory away to Ulster Rugby on the weekend.

The Auckland-born Aki made 14 carries, put in 11 tackles and claimed two breakdown steals in the 26-19 bonus point triumph at Belfast’s Affidea Stadium.

It was the perfect way for him to celebrate having just signed a one-year contract extension with the IRFU.

Speaking after the game, he said: “I’m absolutely delighted to stay for another year and I’m looking forward to it.

“I’ll put my heart out for this club, and I’ll put my heart out for this country as much as I can and for as long as I can.”

Reflecting on the Belfast showdown with Ulster, he said: “We knew it was going to be tough. It’s a hard place to come and play. It’s a hostile area.

“Ulster are a great team; they are well coached. We knew we had to dig deep and big credit to the boys for doing that.

“It’s an inter-pro and I think the biggest part of an inter-pro is physicality. It goes a long way. Physicality was one of the big parts of our game.

“Inter-pros are great to play in. I love inter-pros. You’ve got guys playing up against each other and there’s a lot to prove.”

That’s now four BKT URC wins on the trot for play-off chasing Connacht who are up to ninth in the table and level on points with the eighth-placed Vodacom Bulls as they look ahead to Saturday’s meeting with the Ospreys in Galway.

The 69-cap Aki said: “The boys who have been playing for the last couple of weeks have dug in well and put in a good platform for the boys that have been away in Ireland camp to come back and perform well.”

Head coach Stuart Lancaster was full of praise for his veteran centre.

“He was involved in a huge game with Ireland the previous weekend,” he said.

“In my mind, I am thinking ‘Is he good to go?’

“So, I spoke to him and said ‘Are you good to go?’ and he said ‘Yeah, I’m good to go’.

“He trained really well. He trained on the Monday, even after winning the Triple Crown with Ireland.

“Bundee was on great form. The energy he brings is amazing. It’s great to have him back.”

Along with Aki, fellow Irish Six Nations squad members Finlay Bealham, Darragh Murray, Cian Prendergast and Billy Bohan also rolled up their sleeves to start against Ulster.

“To double down and play in an inter-pro and give so much shows what the club means to them,” said Lancaster.

“They were delighted in the changing room.”

Two-try winger Finn Treacy echoed his coach in praising the returning Six Nations contingent.

“Getting the Ireland boys back in, they really drove and led the week. They gave us such belief, helping us younger lads,” he said.

“We knew how tough the challenge was going to be. Ulster are playing very good rugby and they were undefeated at home this season. It’s such a tough place to come.

“We knew it wasn’t going to be any walkover. It was going to need a full 80 minute performance.

“But there was just a confidence there in the group that we were going to do it. We have that inner belief now. We’ve got momentum these last few games.

“It was a really proud performance for Connacht. There was some feeling there at the end.”

There was also yet another touchdown for No 8 Sean Jansen who is the BKT URC’s leading try scorer this season with nine.

“We talked about this being our glass ceiling moment,” said the man from Dunedin.

“We feel like we are going on a run. The boys are starting to click. You can see in our defence. The boys are tight and they are loving it. What a feeling!

“We have got the Ospreys next weekend now, so hopefully we keep our run going and we get into that eight.”

Related Topics:Bundee Aki Connacht Ireland URC

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United Rugby Championship

Bulls 45–19 Benetton – URC Round 18

Published

5 days ago

17th May 2026

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BKT United Rugby Championship, Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa 5/10/2024 Vodacom Bulls vs Ulster A view of the Bulls changing room ahead of the game Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Christiaan Kotze

The Bulls powered past Benetton with seven tries in a commanding 45–19 bonus-point win at Loftus Versfeld.

Key moments

3 mins – TRY BULLS: Canan Moodie breaks through and Handre Pollard sets up Sergeal Petersen for the opening try. Pollard converts. (Bulls 7–0 Benetton)

12 mins – TRY BULLS: Spellbinding play from Pollard opens up space and Willie le Roux takes full advantage. Pollard converts. (Bulls 14–0 Benetton)

18 mins – TRY BENETTON: Matt Gallagher sets up a wonderful passing move finished off by Louis Lynagh. Unconverted. (Bulls 14–5 Benetton)

28 mins – TRY BULLS: The Bulls maul proves unstoppable as Johan Grobbelaar powers over. Pollard misses the conversion. (Bulls 19–5 Benetton)

34 mins – YELLOW CARD BENETTON: Alessandro Garbisi is shown yellow.

37 mins – TRY BULLS: The pick and go results in a try for Cobus Wiese. Pollard converts to secure the bonus point. (Bulls 26–5 Benetton)

39 mins – TRY BENETTON: Rhyno Smith wriggles through a gap to score. Smith converts his own try. (Bulls 26–12 Benetton)

Half-time: Bulls 26–12 Benetton. The hosts in command with the bonus point already secured.

41 mins – TRY BENETTON: Matt Gallagher creates again and Louis Lynagh finishes for his second. Smith converts. (Bulls 26–19 Benetton)

56 mins – TRY BULLS: Stedman Gans plays a key part as Petersen scores a stunning individual try for his second. Pollard converts. (Bulls 33–19 Benetton)

62 mins – TRY BULLS: Mpilo Gumede breaks through the defensive line to touch down. Pollard converts. (Bulls 40–19 Benetton)

74 mins – TRY BULLS: Paul de Wet sets it up and Ruan Nortje scores from close range. Pollard’s conversion drifts wide. (Bulls 45–19 Benetton)

Full-time: Bulls 45–19 Benetton

Full match report to follow.

Teams

Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Devon Williams, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier; 1 Gerhard Steenekamp, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 3 Wilco Louw, 4 Ruan Nortje, 5 Cobus Wiese, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Elrigh Louw, 8 Cameron Hanekom
Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Stravino Jacobs

Benetton: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Paolo Odogwu, 12 Mattia Midena, 11 Rhyno Smith, 10 Alessandro Garbisi, 9 Federico Zanandrea; 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 3 Tiziano Pasquali, 4 Federico Ruzza, 5 Lorenzo Cannone, 6 Manuel Zuliani, 7 Alessandro Izekor, 8 Toa Halafihi
Replacements: 16 Nicholas Gasperini, 17 Ivan Nemer, 18 Marcos Gallorini, 19 Niccolo Cannone, 20 Cristiano Tizzano, 21 Jadin Kingi, 22 Leonardo Marin, 23 Giulio Marini

Match details

Bulls 45 (Tries: Petersen 2, le Roux, Grobbelaar, Wiese, Gumede, Nortje; Cons: Pollard 5/7)
Benetton 19 (Tries: Lynagh 2, Smith; Cons: Smith 2/3)
Half-time: 26–12

Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)

United Rugby Championship

Sharks 54–19 Zebre – URC Round 18

Published

5 days ago

17th May 2026

rugbyisthegame

BKT United Rugby Championship, Dexcom Stadium, Galway 28/9/2024 Connacht vs Hollywoodbets Sharks A view of Vodacom URC branding Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

The Sharks ran in eight tries to thrash Zebre 54–19 in a dominant bonus-point victory at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.

Key moments

14 mins – TRY SHARKS: A series of passes ends with Jaco Williams touching down for the opening score. Vusi Moyo hooks the conversion wide. (Sharks 5–0 Zebre)

20 mins – TRY ZEBRE: Mirko Belloni breaks through and Malik Faissal finishes a wonderful passing move. Giovanni Montemauri converts. (Sharks 5–7 Zebre)

25 mins – TRY SHARKS: Siya Kolisi breaches the defence and powers over from close range. Moyo converts. (Sharks 12–7 Zebre)

28 mins – TRY SHARKS: Zekhethelo Siyaya shows brilliant skill to go over. Moyo converts. (Sharks 19–7 Zebre)

39 mins – YELLOW CARD ZEBRE: Alessandro Fusco is shown yellow.

40 mins – TRY SHARKS: The Sharks maul pushes over the tryline as Kolisi grabs his second. Moyo converts. (Sharks 26–7 Zebre)

Half-time: Sharks 26–7 Zebre. The hosts firmly in control after a commanding first-half display.

46 mins – TRY SHARKS: Spellbinding play from Bradley Davids sets up Vusi Moyo to dot the ball down from close range. Moyo adds his own conversion. (Sharks 33–7 Zebre)

53 mins – TRY SHARKS: Nothing was going to stop Manu Tshituka as he records the try. Moyo converts. (Sharks 40–7 Zebre)

62 mins – TRY ZEBRE: A stunning solo try from Simone Gesi. Montemauri converts. (Sharks 40–14 Zebre)

64 mins – TRY SHARKS: Andre Esterhuizen breaks through and sets up Le Roux Malan. Jean Smith converts from the bench. (Sharks 47–14 Zebre)

67 mins – TRY SHARKS: Esterhuizen is involved again as Ross Braude completes the rout. Smith converts. (Sharks 54–14 Zebre)

76 mins – TRY ZEBRE: Great forward play allows Giovanni Quattrini to score a consolation. Montemauri hits the upright with the conversion. (Sharks 54–19 Zebre)

Full-time: Sharks 54–19 Zebre

Full match report to follow.

Teams

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Litelihle Bester, 10 Bradley Davids, 9 Nick Hatton; 1 Ox Nche, 2 Eduan Swart, 3 Vincent Koch, 4 Emile van Heerden, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 6 Jaco Williams, 7 Jurenzo Julius, 8 Siya Kolisi
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Phatu Ganyane, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Thomas Dyer, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Ross Braude, 22 Jean Smith, 23 Le Roux Malan

Zebre: 15 Mirko Belloni, 14 Simone Gesi, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Enrico Lucchin, 11 Jacopo Trulla, 10 Giovanni Montemauri, 9 Alessandro Fusco; 1 Damiano Mazza, 2 Alessandro Ortombina, 3 Ion Neculai, 4 Andrea Zambonin, 5 Leonard Krumov, 6 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 7 Samuele Locatelli, 8 Martin Roger
Replacements: 16 Giampietro Ribaldi, 17 Muhamed Hasa, 18 Matteo Nocera, 19 Migael Prinsloo, 20 Iacopo Bianchi, 21 Luca Franceschetto, 22 David Odiase, 23 Malik Faissal

Match details

Sharks 54 (Tries: Williams, Kolisi 2, Siyaya, Moyo, Tshituka, Malan, Braude; Cons: Moyo 5/6, Smith 2/2)
Zebre 19 (Tries: Faissal, Gesi, Quattrini; Cons: Montemauri 2/3)
Half-time: 26–7

Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU)

United Rugby Championship

Scarlets 35–35 Dragons – URC Round 18

Published

5 days ago

17th May 2026

rugbyisthegame

BKT United Rugby Championship, Stadio Monigo, Treviso, Italy 21/9/2024 Benetton Rugby vs Scarlets A view of the Scarlets jersey Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Matteo Ciambelli

A thrilling Welsh derby ended all square as the Scarlets fought back from 14–25 down to draw 35–35 with the Dragons at Parc y Scarlets.

Key moments

1 min – TRY SCARLETS: Taine Plumtree breaks through the defensive line for a stunning solo try on the opening play. Joe Hawkins converts. (Scarlets 7–0 Dragons)

3 mins – TRY DRAGONS: Thomas Young touches down from close range as the Dragons hit back immediately. Angus O’Brien converts. (Scarlets 7–7 Dragons)

8 mins – PENALTY DRAGONS: O’Brien slots the penalty to edge the visitors ahead. (Scarlets 7–10 Dragons)

11 mins – TRY DRAGONS: Brodie Coghlan takes advantage of a gap in the defence and scores from close range. O’Brien converts. (Scarlets 7–17 Dragons)

14 mins – TRY SCARLETS: Plumtree grabs his second from close range. Hawkins converts. (Scarlets 14–17 Dragons)

35 mins – TRY DRAGONS: Niall Armstrong breaks through and Aneurin Owen sets up Aaron Wainwright to finish. O’Brien misses the conversion. (Scarlets 14–22 Dragons)

Half-time: Scarlets 14–22 Dragons. The visitors take an eight-point lead into the break after a pulsating first half.

42 mins – PENALTY DRAGONS: O’Brien extends the lead from the tee. (Scarlets 14–25 Dragons)

50 mins – TRY SCARLETS: Taine Plumtree sets it up and Josh MacLeod charges over. Hawkins converts. (Scarlets 21–25 Dragons)

56 mins – YELLOW CARD SCARLETS: Gareth Davies is shown yellow.

56 mins – PENALTY TRY DRAGONS: The referee awards a penalty try. Automatic conversion. (Scarlets 21–32 Dragons)

58 mins – TRY SCARLETS: Plumtree makes a superb break and Jarrod Taylor finishes it off. Hawkins converts. (Scarlets 28–32 Dragons)

62 mins – YELLOW CARD SCARLETS: Carwyn Leggatt-Jones is sent to the sin bin.

63 mins – PENALTY DRAGONS: O’Brien punishes the ill-discipline. (Scarlets 28–35 Dragons)

74 mins – TRY SCARLETS: Leggatt-Jones plays a key part and Macs Page takes full advantage to level the scores. Hawkins converts. (Scarlets 35–35 Dragons)

83 mins – PENALTY SCARLETS: Hawkins goes for the win but his penalty drops short of the posts.

Full-time: Scarlets 35–35 Dragons

Full match report to follow.

Teams

Scarlets: 15 Ioan Jones, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Ellis Mee, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Dane Blacker; 1 Josh Morse, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Archer Holz, 4 Sam Lousi, 5 Jac Price, 6 Taine Plumtree, 7 Josh MacLeod, 8 Sione Kalamafoni
Replacements: 16 Harry Thomas, 17 Sam O’Connor, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Jac Davies, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, 23 Jarrod Taylor

Dragons: 15 Angus O’Brien, 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Joe Westwood, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Jared Rosser, 10 Will Reed, 9 Niall Armstrong; 1 Wyn Jones, 2 Brodie Coghlan, 3 Dillon Lewis, 4 Joe Davies, 5 Ben Carter, 6 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Thomas Young, 8 Ryan Woodman
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Chris Coleman, 19 Harrison Keddie, 20 Dan Sheridan, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Steff Hughes, 23 Matt Sheridan

Match details

Scarlets 35 (Tries: Plumtree 2, MacLeod, Taylor, Page; Cons: Hawkins 5/5; Pens: Hawkins 0/2)
Dragons 35 (Tries: Young, Coghlan, Wainwright, pen try; Cons: O’Brien 2/3; Pens: O’Brien 3/3)
Half-time: 14–22

Venue: Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)