LAST UPDATE | 17 Dec 2024
THE IRFU HAS officially confirmed that Connacht centre Bundee Aki has signed a one-year extension to his national contract until the end of the 2025/26 campaign.
34-year-old Aki had been linked with a move to French rugby at the end of this season but he and the IRFU have exercised the one-year option on his national deal – also known as a ‘central contract’ – to ensure he will remain with Connacht.
Leinster and Ireland lock James Ryan has also signed a three-year extension to his existing national-contract deal.
The 28-year-old has pledged his future to province and country until the end of the 2027/28 campaign.
Confirmation of Aki and Ryan’s extensions followed yesterday’s announcement by the IRFU that Leinster and Ireland props Tadhg Furlong and Andrew Porter have signed new national contracts until the end of the 2026/27 season.
Midfielder Aki continues to be a key man in Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad, having featured in three of their recent November Tests.
IRFU performance director David Humphreys highlighted Aki’s importance to Connacht and Ireland as he welcomed this new deal.
“Bundee has displayed a consistently high level of performance for club and country in recent years and we are delighted to extend his deal,” said Humphreys.
“We believe that Bundee has a lot more to offer on the field and has a big role in helping to develop the next batch of exciting youngsters out West in Connacht and within the wider Ireland panel.”
Aki expressed his excitement about getting the deal done.
“I am delighted to extend my contract with the IRFU and am excited about competing for Ireland and Connacht for the coming seasons,” said Aki.
“I love playing rugby in Ireland and believe that this is the right environment for me to progress as a player. I would like to thank the IRFU for their support and I’m excited for what the future holds in green in the years ahead.”
Second row Ryan has become an integral part of his provincial and national setups over the last seven seasons, winning 67 Test caps and representing Leinster on 89 occasions.
Ryan started three of Ireland’s November internationals.
“I’m delighted to sign a new contract with Leinster and commit my long-term future to the IRFU,” Ryan said.
“Playing in ambitious set-ups is a big driver for me personally and I know how committed everyone in Irish rugby is to work hard and achieve success.
“It’s a privilege to play for my home province and my country and, with the talent coming through the academy systems, I’m excited about what the future holds in blue and green.”
Speaking of Ryan’s retention, David Humphreys described the second row as “a mainstay of the Leinster and Ireland engine rooms over the last number of seasons” and said it was “a huge boost for both teams” that the former Ireland U20s captain would remain in the country.
“James has displayed consistency and talent for many years which, allied to his leadership skills, means that Ireland has successfully retained another important player within our system,” Humphreys added.
“We believe that James’ best years are ahead of him and look forward to watching him progress in the seasons to come.”
Next season will be one of the most interesting seasons in an age. Leicester and Tottenham have money, Liverpool are doing well. United will buy big. And Man City will have to do a clear out. A few new names from the Euros will prob make big transfers. And as for Long, the better he is doing the better for us. For all the bitching people done about Robbie we can clearly see how he dragged us for years
Milan baros…… Supasta
Ye boys working here on the 42 are mad to get Coleman and McCarthy to ‘bigger’ clubs. Their performances this year would leave a lot to be desired I’d be surprised if a ‘big’ club would come in for them. They ain’t Denis Irvin and Roy Keane so get over it!
Coleman had plenty of interest when he made the team of the year in 2014 and McCarthy has been inquired after by the likes of Spurs before, even though it might not have gone anywhere. I think this shows they should have been more ruthless and grabbed their chances with both hands. It’s a short career.
McCarthy to Spurs could be a good move for both parties. He can provide an extra holding midfielder with Dier and Dembele and for McCarthy will have chance to play CL.
I think Shane Long is great but there is no doubt that he is wasteful in the premier league and does miss a couple before he scores but this season he has done well. Hope he pushes on for the euros and stays at Southampton!
I agree I think the author has got a slightly over board here !
As a gooner I just can’t see the immediate future improving at all. Bit harsh maybe to protest against Wenger but it’s time for a change. Fair fooks to Leicester though. The most exciting story in football since Denmark won the euro’s in 92. And as a diehard Ireland fan I dream of Ireland doing something similar
Funny you should mention it, if Ireland hadn’t fooked up in Poland they would have been a serious team at Euro 92. The team were at their peak that year.
I was only 2 when Denmark won the euros but leicester’s success surely has to be so much more exciting and impressive. Denmark won three games to win the Euros! I don’t need to tell ye what Leicester did!
They won more than three. 6 at least.
They won 2 in normal time and one on penos. There was only 8 teams in the Euros back then. Not that spectacular of an achievement. Greece in 2004 would be closer to what Leicester did but still miles away.
Would love to see Liverpool and Atletico win their European cup finals. I reckon they both have fantastic chances.
Have a wee bet on for that, so I hope so too!
Don’t agree with it being the
Minority that want Wenger to stay. I’m a Arsenal fan and want to him to see out his contract. It’s the media that’s made the hype surrounding Wenger. The protest game had just as many fans chanting FOR than against Wenger. Man is a legend and deserves our respect and deserves to see out his contract.
You’re definitely right. Be crazy to sack him. Although they will have to put in a long term plan replacing him – he is probably the only manager now who has control over the whole club. If they don’t plan they will end up a mess like United and forced to spend hundreds of millions to get back to top 4. And that’s coming from a Spurs fan!
So you want him out then
Spot on Sideshow. It would be mad to sack with out a proper long term plan in place. I’d expect him to still have a big role at the club which would be amazing for any manager who comes in to have that experience to draw from. I don’t think it’s a matter of his style of football that has some fans screaming for his head but more that he hasn’t brought in that world class striker to lead the line which admittedly he is partially to blame for alright. You get the sense that he knows he has to spend big and bring in that big name this summer but to call for his sacking is a bit much IMO. I doubt any manager (with the exception of Fergie) could have managed CL quali for 18 season in a row and that alone deserves massive plaudits for keeping Arsenal a “big club”
PS. If you lot could lose tomorrow that’d be great. Cheers ;)
Ye’re gas, I just don’t get the calls for this big name striker, vardy was hardly a big name, Aguero is a big name but he still didn’t guarantee city the league, besides Giroud has one of the highest goal to minutes played ratio in the league, Sanchez is class, and ye’ve loads of attacking players, it’s at the heart of the defence is ye’re biggest problem, look at any league winning side from living memory and they’re all built on solid defensive foundations, no side would have ever won the league with an aging per mertesacker at the heart of its defence
Barca would say otherwise. Haven’t been Defensively sound all year. If it was the premier league they played in they’d leak goals. Its that front three of MSN made the difference so I say yes, a big name striker is of massive importance for a team to win a league. Leicester was a freak occurrence that we might never see in our lifetime again. Giroud is a solid squad player. Good footballer and great to bring off the bench but leading the line id say no. He scored last weekend, his first goal since March 4th. Says enough for me
How many minutes of football did Giroud actually play in that space of time, and no vardy isn’t a total aberration, look at Martial for instance – plucked from relative obscurity. By your logic the Barca defence is no better than arsenals defence, I’m sorry but I’d take pique and mascherano any day over mertesacker, even koscielny is decent but gets muscled out of it in the air a lot. So unless ye are going to go and buy three of the best attackers in the world then no I don’t think one more striker will win the league for ye. How many times have I seen mertesacker vacate central defence and then fail to get back in time, it happened against spurs and again against city. Huth and morgan have shown whats needed to win titles.
“plucked from relative obscurity” – Ya, but for how much money?
Fancy Liverpool next year.
Showbiz
Rumors abound that Klopp will see Sturridge, bring in Goetze and make Firmino his main striker. It would be some statement from Klopp if he were to do that.
Top class? No. Has played better this season with an extended run of games but one season does not make a player. Now i might have the bar too high but top class for me would be lukaku and higuain while world class would be suarez, ibrahimovic. Messi and ronaldo have their own special class. Am I being too restrictive?
Lukaku and Higuain are Europa class at best whilst Ibrahamovic is merely a flat-track tosser!!
Suarez surely has to be in a class above Ibra? He’s proven himself at Barca while Ibra floundered there
Only took him 8seasons….
Long might be great with klopp?
Shane Long is an all round striker but I’m surprised no one has given Connor Salmon a mention , given his recent performances he ought to be given a place for the Euros next month
And starting as lone striker of course!
Shane long is far from being a Top class striker. He is John walters with A bit more pace but doesn’t hold the Ball as well as Walters does. Thats the decision O’Neill must make a mediocre striker that can Run in behind of One that can hold the Ball up to involve others in the play.
With no European Football to distract, Chelsea under Conte should be a good bet next season for top 4.
‘hon the ‘hoe. G’wan the Long fella