By:
Conor Martin
Bundee Aki will miss Ireland’s opening three Six Nations matches after being hit with a four-game ban for verbally abusing match officials following Connacht’s URC defeat to Leinster last weekend.
The 35-year-old centre appeared before an independent disciplinary committee on Wednesday, where it was found that he had “engaged with the match official team after the game on several occasions” and behaved in a manner deemed abusive and disrespectful.
Aki was initially handed a six-match suspension, but two games were suspended, reducing the ban to four. The sanction rules him out of Connacht’s upcoming URC clash with Zebre and Ireland’s first three Six Nations fixtures against France, Italy and England.
Bundee Aki will miss a crucial set of games for Ireland
The ban means Aki will sit out the most demanding stretch of Ireland’s campaign, including the opening-round blockbuster against France and the trip to face England. He will be available again for the final two rounds, with Ireland hosting Wales and Scotland.
Aki had already been omitted from Andy Farrell’s Six Nations squad before the hearing and did not travel with the rest of the group to Portugal for their warm-weather training camp earlier this week. His exclusion now carries added weight given the length of the suspension.
One of Ireland’s most influential performers in recent seasons, Aki has been a cornerstone of the midfield, offering power, physicality and leadership. His absence leaves Farrell short of experience in the centres early in the championship and opens the door for others to stake a claim during a crucial period.
For Connacht, the loss of Aki compounds a difficult spell, depriving them of a key leader as they look to build momentum in the United Rugby Championship (URC).
Confirming Aki’s ban, a URC statement said: “The misconduct charges arose from the Round 10 BKT United Rugby Championship fixture on Saturday, January 24 at Dexcom Stadium, Galway.
URC release statement following rugby star’s ban
“After considering all of the submissions, the Independent Committee deemed that the player engaged with the match official team after the game on several occasions in a manner which breached the Disciplinary Rules.
“The Independent Committee concluded that the player’s behaviour constituted verbal abuse and disrespect of a match official(s) under the relevant rules. In determining its sanction, the Independent Committee felt that a six (6) week suspension was appropriate, with two of those weeks suspended.
“The Committee also recognised the player’s full regret for his actions and was grateful for the approach that he took towards the proceedings. However, given the player’s previous disciplinary record (including incidents of a similar nature) and his lack of a plea in this case, the Independent Committee could not apply mitigation to the sanction.”
It marks a frustrating chapter for both club and country, with Ireland forced to begin their Six Nations campaign without one of their most trusted big-game players
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