The 28-year-old Auckland Blues centre is heading to the northern hemisphere
All Blacks superstar Rieko Ioane is set to sign for Irish province Leinster ahead of next season.
The Auckland Blues centre will follow in the footsteps of fellow Kiwi Jordie Barrett in joining the Irish heavyweights, who already have one of the most formidable sides in club rugby.
Despite being committed to New Zealand rugby until the 2027 World Cup, it’s not uncommon for players, like Barrett, to take a sabbatical abroad in between, and Ioane has a sabbatical clause in his contract that allows him to miss one season of Super Rugby.
Ioane had the opportunity to go to Japan, where his brother Akira now plys his trade, but decided to follow in the footsteps of Barrett and join Ireland’s biggest club. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
Writing in an Instagram post, Ioane wrote: “What’s up fam? Just wanted to announce, I’ll be heading to Leinster at the end of the year on a sabbatical break.
“It’s an exciting opportunity to play in Ireland for an iconic team, grow my game and experience something different with my family.
“Will be back refreshed and ready to rock in the second half of 2026. Until then, locked in with my Blues brothers.”
Of course, Ioane is well-acquainted with the Irish already, having a very public spat with them, and in particular, Johnny Sexton.
It occurred after the World Cup quarter-final between the two nations in 2023, which was the last match of Sexton’s Test career.
According to Sexton’s book ‘Obsessed’, after the All Blacks win, the Irishman claimed that Ioane said: “Don’t miss your flight home tomorrow. Enjoy retirement, you c***.”
Sexton added, in his book: “So much for the All Blacks’ famous “no d********” policy. So much for their humility. I walk after Ioane and call him a fake-humble f*****.
“It doesn’t look great, me having a go at one of them just after we’ve lost. But I can’t be expected to ignore that.”
Then, after Ireland lost to New Zealand in the autumn internationals last year, Ioane posted a photo of himself leading the haka, with the caption: “Put that in the book.”
Already on the books at Leinster is South Africa international lock RG Snyman, who has proven to be a talismanic figure in the squad. He initially signed for Munster before moving to their fierce rivals.
The current Leinster team is essentially the Ireland international side with RG Snyman and Jordie Barrett included, and while Leinster fans will be a bit gutted to see Barrett go this summer, signing 81-cap Ioane isn’t a bad alternative.
