‘Was actually quite emotional’: Sir John Kirwan reacts to Rieko Ioane extension
On this week’s episode of The Breakdown, commentator Ken Laben called All Blacks midfielder Rieko Ioane “the best centre in the world.”
For a player who has only recently transitioned over from the wing at Test level, Ioane’s rapid rise to world-class status in the No. 13 is simply incredible.
As a 17-year-old, Ioane announced himself to the rugby world on the Sevens World Series circuit alongside his brother Akira – and the speedster hasn’t looked back since.
While there’s been an almost unprecedented level of pressure and expectation hanging over his shoulders, Ioane has passed each and every test with flying colours.
Earlier this year, Ioane denied reports that he’d signed a deal in Japan from 2024. If true, this news would’ve been a major blow to the future of NZR and the All Blacks.
But the midfielder officially put any rumours to bed earlier this week as Ioane confirmed that he’d signed a four year contract extension with NZR.
Ioane’s decision to knock back lucrative deals from overseas is a great thing for the All Blacks, as it reinforces the pedigree and aura that the coveted jersey carries.
Following the announcement, All Blacks great Sir John Kirwan explained why the news made him “emotional.”
“I was actually quite emotional about it Goldie (Jeff Wilson) to be fair,” Kirwan said on Sky Sports The Breakdown.
“I understand that people have to look after their futures and there’s big financial rewards overseas.
“But for him to say ‘my legacy, our legacy, which for me is the All Blacks, I want to achieve some goals.’
“For me I just thought, ‘Wow that’s so good, so good.’
“We need a new era, I believe, after this World Cup.”
Ioane will have the opportunity to take a sabbatical during his extended deal though – but World Cups and the black jersey are driving him.
The 26-year-old spoke about how he wants to forge a “legacy” in Aotearoa, and this decision will go a long way to making that dream a reality.
“The other thing I like about Rieko is he’s worked really hard to get better. Goldie you and I played on the wing, he was an outstanding winger… best in the world at wing, he’s transformed to centre and it wasn’t easy for him to start with,” he added.
“I just think it’s one of those signings that’s going to help others sign, and once again the Blues traditionally have had players like this who do leave early.
“You think about Steven Luatua, you think about Charles Piutau, those guys have left, even Melani Nanai.
“To have that stability, leadership within the Blues, hopefully that’ll get a whole lot more guys to stay.”
Ioane and the Blues are set to host the NSW Waratahs at Eden Park on Saturday.
Comments on RugbyPass
late hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
4 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
24 Go to comments