Rieko Ioane has agreed a seven-month contract with Leinster and will join the province at the end of the November international window. In doing so he will mimic the deal that took his midfield partner in the All Blacks team, Jordie Barrett from New Zealand to Leinster.
Ioane announced on Instagram in a picture of him wearing a Leinster jersey. “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 the second half of 2026. Until then locked in with my blues brothers.”
Why do Leinster keep signing All Blacks?
Ioane’s decision – he is under contract to the All Blacks up to and including the 2027 World Cup – to choose to play in Ireland and Leinster rather than Japan is not without some irony given his very public spat with Irish captain Johnny Sexton at the end of the World Cup quarter-final game at the Stade de France.
Sexton is his autobiography Obsessed wrote about the verbal spat claiming that Ioane had told him: “Don’t miss your flight home tomorrow. Enjoy retirement, you c***,” a reference to the fact that it was outhalf’s last game of professional rugby.
Sexton went on to write: “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.” There was a little bit of verbal residue on social media between the players subsequently.
Ioane led the Haka when the All Blacks played at the Aviva Stadium last November as the visitors ended Ireland’s 19-match unbeaten run, and he then posted a picture to social media with the caption, “put that in the book,” to copper-fasten his role as the pantomime villain.
The 28-year-old Ioane has played 81 Test matches for the All Blacks and can play centre and wing, and he represents another statement signing for Leinster who have already agreed contract extensions with current non-Irish qualified players RG Snyman and Rabah Slimani.
“We are thrilled to confirm the signing of Rieko on a seven-month contract which will come into effect after this year’s Autumn Nations Series fixtures,” said Leinster head coach Leo Cullen.
“Similar to our current arrangement with Jordie, we’d like to thank the NZRU for their help facilitating the move.
“Rieko is a world-class, 81-cap All Black who has been operating at the very top level of the international game and Super Rugby for many seasons.
“He is an exciting, versatile outside back who will bring pace, rugby skills and experience to Leinster. That experience will add massive value to the group here and our younger players especially will learn so much from seeing how Rieko prepares, trains and plays.
“We can’t wait to welcome Rieko to Leinster and I’m sure all our supporters will join me in making him and his family feel at home when the time comes.”
Speaking to the Leinster Rugby website, Ioane said: “I’m looking forward to this exciting opportunity to play in Ireland and for Leinster, and to grow my game with such an iconic club with a rich history.
“I’m also looking forward to opening myself and my family up to new experiences away from home and to growing together in a new environment.
“I’d like to thank Leo and Leinster Rugby for the opportunity and NZRU and my Blues brothers. We’ve work to do yet this season, and I’m locked in for that, but I look forward to touching down in Dublin later this year and meeting all the Leinster supporters.”
