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Akira Ioane to leave Blues after iconic 10-year career

Akira Ioane celebrates 100 games for the Blues. Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images

All Black Akira Ioane has revealed he is Japan-bound at the end of the 2024 season, drawing to an end an iconic Blues and New Zealand International career.

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Ioane, 28, has now spent a decade with the Auckland Super Rugby club after coming through the ranks at Auckland Grammar School.

Akira and his brother Rieko made their mark on the international circuit initially in the All Blacks Sevens team, competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics but missing out on a medal.

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    With the Blues hosting the Brumbies in the semi-final this weekend, the knockout clash will potentially be Akiraā€™s last home game in the Blues jersey.

    The club shared a clip on social media late Sunday night revealing the Blues centurionā€™s decision.

    ā€œIt means a lot, obviously Iā€™m a born and bred Auckland boy and I never really thought about going anywhere else. This is home, it will always be home,ā€ Ioane said in the video.

    ā€œBut, at the end of the day Iā€™ve had to make a hard decision and Iā€™ve decided to leave the Blues at the end of this year.

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    ā€œA tough decision, wasnā€™t easy. I just thought it was time. Iā€™ve been here 10 years, since I was a young kid coming out of school. Itā€™s something I never truly thought was possible, Iā€™m truly grateful for the opportunity Iā€™ve had.

    ā€œItā€™s going to suck leaving, but on to what I think is bigger and better things for me and where I want to be, when I want to finish rugby.

    ā€œItā€™s not just me and my partner I have to worry about, itā€™s about making sure Iā€™ve got the means to look after my family.

    ā€œThat was part of the decision to head to Japan and make the most of what I think is the back end of my career.

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    ā€œIā€™m still young but I want to be a part of his (Ioaneā€™s sonā€™s) life and I want to make sure that he has everything that we didnā€™t have growing up.

    ā€œThem before me is my mindset now.ā€

    Ioane took the time to thank all of his teammates, but in particular Jerome Kaino, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ofa Tuā€™ungafasi, Steven Luatua and his brother Rieko.

    While it appears Ioaneā€™s days in the black jersey have come to an end, his 13 Maori All Blacks caps and 22 All Blacks Tests saw him produce some huge moments.

    The move doesnā€™t necessarily spell the end of Ioaneā€™s international career though, as the utility forward was born in Tokyo to a Samoan father.

    For the Blues, while losing a club great is undeniably a mammoth loss, the club are well placed to absorb the departure thanks to names like Adrian Choat and Anton Segner offering huge potential in the No. 6 jersey.

    ā€œIn the next weeks we will farewell a legend of the club. The epitome of a Blues man,ā€ the club captioned the video.

    ā€œHailing from up north and raised in central Auckland Aki bleeds nothing but Blue. He will potentially play his last game in front of you in a thrilling semi final against the Brumbies on Friday night. Join us in celebrating Akiraā€™s 10 years of dedication to this region.ā€

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    Comments

    7 Comments
    j
    joe 296 days ago

    Had all the attributes to succeed, Strength, speed to burn and skills an inside back would be proud of, could tackle, chipā€¦ā€¦.they shouldā€™ve tried him at inside centre, he wouldā€™ve been awesome.

    J
    Joseph 296 days ago

    Still not convinced Akira is a good player, especially at international level. Was never physically dominant in any of his clashes, and only plays well against physically smaller teams like USA, Japan, or Tonga

    T
    T-Bone 297 days ago

    Playing very well this year and deserves this chance
    We will now see the Japanese born Akira lining up for Eddies Brave Blossoms next year šŸ˜€

    S
    SadersMan 297 days ago

    The call of the ATM league is not to be ignored.

    E
    Easy_Duzz-it 297 days ago

    Another wasted talent , should of been 6 for All Blacks in 2017 or 8 in 2018 ready for the 19 World Cup ā€¦

    J
    Jon 297 days ago

    Well done Akira on a great career so far, good luck with the rest.

    Hope to see you on an International paddock this year.

    M
    MattJH 297 days ago

    Heā€™ll dominate in Japan. Good move.
    Very disappointing he never reached his potential in NZ. Could have been a special player.

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