Latest news with #Auckland-born
NZ Herald
4 days ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Oli Sail joins Auckland FC in effort to reclaim All Whites No 1 spot
Goalkeeper Oli Sail has joined Auckland FC in a bid to reclaim his place as the All Whites No 1 before next year's World Cup. 'Every decision you make leading into the World Cup cycle is going to have an influence,' Sail told the Herald. When Auckland-born Sail
The Irish Sun
04-08-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Funny story' – Bundee Aki reveals chaotic circumstances around wife giving birth before Lions played Australia
Bundee Aki also admitted to having a poor performance in the final Test match BUNDEE Aki revealed he missed the birth of his fifth child as he prepared to face Australia in the Lions first Test match. In the lead up to the Lions 27-19 opening Test victory over the Wallabies, there was a new addition to the Aki family. 2 The Lions won their first series in 12 years when they defeated the Wallabies in the first two Test matches 2 The conditions were deplorable for the Lions third Test match against Australia Bundee's wife Kayla was in New Zealand with family when she got in touch to say she was ready to give birth. Ireland's 2024 players' player of the year's fifth child Aine Aki was born in a car on the way to the hospital, the day of her dad's second ever Lions Test appearance. Bundee told the 'funny story' after the Lions final Test match against Australia saying: "If you only knew the story of what happened, it's a funny story in itself. "I was in the hotel. I knew we were overdue. The missus calls me and she's like, 'Water hasn't broke but I'm going to the hospital, I'm feeling contractions.' "She goes to the hospital, we're getting ready for the team meeting pre-match, and then she calls me and says she's on the way to the hospital, so I said, 'Fine, be safe.' "Five minutes later, she sends a photo, her water broke. I was like, 'Cool, OK, are you almost there?' "This is like 30 or 40 minutes away from the hospital, so I said, 'You'll be alright, Mum is there.' "Ten minutes later, she video calls me and I was like, 'Shit, what's going on?'. "I saw a baby on the video call, so she had it in the car on the way to the hospital." The Connacht centre has credited his wife for taking the whole ordeal in her stride despite the difficulty of it all. Australia and Lions rugby stars are forced off the pitch mid-game due to threat of lightning The Ireland star added: "Credit to my wife. She's a powerful woman, a strong woman." Bundee believed the birth of his fifth child brought good luck to the Lions who went on to win the series in the second Test. The 35-year-old added: "I knew it was good Juju, I knew it was good Juju. So I knew we were going to have a good day. "All my kids start with A. So my wife loved the name Aine. That's five As in the family. Armani, Adrianna, Andronicus, Ailbhe, Aine." Andy Farrell's side did however fail to complete the clean sweep as they lost the final Test match 22-12. A poor Lions performance has not disheartened the Auckland-born star, as he has the chance now to meet his newest daughter Aine. 'I wasn't great. It was a poor game but you have those days and you have to live with it. We won the series and that's all we came for. 'Now, I want to enjoy my break. I haven't seen my family for eight weeks. I have a newborn child I haven't met yet.'
The Advertiser
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Utoikamanu moves to make Origin mark after 2023 tease
Stefano Utoikamanu spent two years feeling so teased by 12 minutes of State of Origin that it prompted the front-rower to uproot his life and move to Melbourne. The one fresh face in the NSW team for Origin II in Perth next week, Utoikamanu has every right to feel like he is making his debut again. The 25-year-old played his sole Origin two years ago, playing 12 minutes for the Blues in their game-two loss that surrendered the series at Suncorp Stadium in 2023. It was enough time for six touches of the football and seven tackles, but hardly enough for the prop to feel like he'd been able to make his mark in the Origin arena. "I've thought about that a lot," Utoikamanu said. "I didn't really get a real taste of getting in there. I played 12 minutes and it's pretty hard coming off the bench, you've got to make an impact. "If you don't make an impact there's not really any point you being out there. "I'm happy I get another opportunity to go in there and show them what I can actually do. That first time I felt like I didn't do what I needed to do." Utoikamanu said he had "chilled" as a footballer since his Origin debut, having also represented Samoa since. But he has also made no secret of his desire to get back in a Blues jersey. It was a big part of the front-rower's thinking when he moved to Melbourne from Wests Tigers at the end of last year. Utoikamanu says "it's hard to say" if he would be playing this week had he stayed at the Tigers, as one of only two men to feature in Origin while at the club since 2018. Regardless, the Auckland-born talent knows the Storm move has helped, where he is now playing under NSW coach Laurie Daley's new adviser Craig Bellamy. "Coming to the Melbourne Storm has helped me a fair bit in trying to get back into this arena," Utoikamanu said. "It was one of the things I looked at when I was going to leave the Wests Tigers. "I feel like the Melbourne Storm have such a good system, and being in it now I'm happy I made the move. "There's a system there that's made a lot of players get better. A lot of players go there and become better, there's a lot of teams you can't say that (about). "Melbourne's one of those teams that when you go there you have to do the hard work, but when you do the hard work you're going to become a better player." Stefano Utoikamanu spent two years feeling so teased by 12 minutes of State of Origin that it prompted the front-rower to uproot his life and move to Melbourne. The one fresh face in the NSW team for Origin II in Perth next week, Utoikamanu has every right to feel like he is making his debut again. The 25-year-old played his sole Origin two years ago, playing 12 minutes for the Blues in their game-two loss that surrendered the series at Suncorp Stadium in 2023. It was enough time for six touches of the football and seven tackles, but hardly enough for the prop to feel like he'd been able to make his mark in the Origin arena. "I've thought about that a lot," Utoikamanu said. "I didn't really get a real taste of getting in there. I played 12 minutes and it's pretty hard coming off the bench, you've got to make an impact. "If you don't make an impact there's not really any point you being out there. "I'm happy I get another opportunity to go in there and show them what I can actually do. That first time I felt like I didn't do what I needed to do." Utoikamanu said he had "chilled" as a footballer since his Origin debut, having also represented Samoa since. But he has also made no secret of his desire to get back in a Blues jersey. It was a big part of the front-rower's thinking when he moved to Melbourne from Wests Tigers at the end of last year. Utoikamanu says "it's hard to say" if he would be playing this week had he stayed at the Tigers, as one of only two men to feature in Origin while at the club since 2018. Regardless, the Auckland-born talent knows the Storm move has helped, where he is now playing under NSW coach Laurie Daley's new adviser Craig Bellamy. "Coming to the Melbourne Storm has helped me a fair bit in trying to get back into this arena," Utoikamanu said. "It was one of the things I looked at when I was going to leave the Wests Tigers. "I feel like the Melbourne Storm have such a good system, and being in it now I'm happy I made the move. "There's a system there that's made a lot of players get better. A lot of players go there and become better, there's a lot of teams you can't say that (about). "Melbourne's one of those teams that when you go there you have to do the hard work, but when you do the hard work you're going to become a better player." Stefano Utoikamanu spent two years feeling so teased by 12 minutes of State of Origin that it prompted the front-rower to uproot his life and move to Melbourne. The one fresh face in the NSW team for Origin II in Perth next week, Utoikamanu has every right to feel like he is making his debut again. The 25-year-old played his sole Origin two years ago, playing 12 minutes for the Blues in their game-two loss that surrendered the series at Suncorp Stadium in 2023. It was enough time for six touches of the football and seven tackles, but hardly enough for the prop to feel like he'd been able to make his mark in the Origin arena. "I've thought about that a lot," Utoikamanu said. "I didn't really get a real taste of getting in there. I played 12 minutes and it's pretty hard coming off the bench, you've got to make an impact. "If you don't make an impact there's not really any point you being out there. "I'm happy I get another opportunity to go in there and show them what I can actually do. That first time I felt like I didn't do what I needed to do." Utoikamanu said he had "chilled" as a footballer since his Origin debut, having also represented Samoa since. But he has also made no secret of his desire to get back in a Blues jersey. It was a big part of the front-rower's thinking when he moved to Melbourne from Wests Tigers at the end of last year. Utoikamanu says "it's hard to say" if he would be playing this week had he stayed at the Tigers, as one of only two men to feature in Origin while at the club since 2018. Regardless, the Auckland-born talent knows the Storm move has helped, where he is now playing under NSW coach Laurie Daley's new adviser Craig Bellamy. "Coming to the Melbourne Storm has helped me a fair bit in trying to get back into this arena," Utoikamanu said. "It was one of the things I looked at when I was going to leave the Wests Tigers. "I feel like the Melbourne Storm have such a good system, and being in it now I'm happy I made the move. "There's a system there that's made a lot of players get better. A lot of players go there and become better, there's a lot of teams you can't say that (about). "Melbourne's one of those teams that when you go there you have to do the hard work, but when you do the hard work you're going to become a better player."
Scoop
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Caleb Clarke Re-Signs Through 2027
Press Release – Blues Rugby Dynamic winger Caleb Clarke has re-signed with the Blues, and New Zealand Rugby (NZR), through to the end of the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season. A fan favourite since bursting onto the scene as a teenager, Clarke has become a key figure in the Blues backline with his explosive pace, powerful running and infectious energy both on and off the field. Since making his Super Rugby debut in 2018, the Auckland-born winger has grown into one of the game's most exciting talents. For Clarke, the decision to stay was driven by a deep connection to the club and its people. 'The Blues is home for me. I've grown up here, developed here, and achieved some amazing things with this team. I'm proud to represent our region and am excited about what's ahead,' Clarke said. 'We've got an exciting group of guys, awesome fans, and I'm looking forward to continue running out in blue.' Blues GM of Rugby Murray Williams welcomed the news of Clarke's recommitment. 'We're stoked to have Caleb locked in through 2027. He's been a big part of our journey over the last few years and continues to develop as a world class player,' he said. 'His energy is contagious, he's passionate about the Blues jersey, and he will be a huge part of our success moving forward.' NZR General Manager Professional Rugby & Performance Chris Lendrum added: 'Coming off the back of a strong 2024 season for both the Blues and All Blacks we are looking forward to Caleb's continued growth over the next two years in New Zealand.'
West Australian
11-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Utoikamanu moves to make Origin mark after 2023 tease
Stefano Utoikamanu spent two years feeling so teased by 12 minutes of State of Origin that it prompted the front-rower to uproot his life and move to Melbourne. The one fresh face in the NSW team for Origin II in Perth next week, Utoikamanu has every right to feel like he is making his debut again. The 25-year-old played his sole Origin two years ago, playing 12 minutes for the Blues in their game-two loss that surrendered the series at Suncorp Stadium in 2023. It was enough time for six touches of the football and seven tackles, but hardly enough for the prop to feel like he'd been able to make his mark in the Origin arena. "I've thought about that a lot," Utoikamanu said. "I didn't really get a real taste of getting in there. I played 12 minutes and it's pretty hard coming off the bench, you've got to make an impact. "If you don't make an impact there's not really any point you being out there. "I'm happy I get another opportunity to go in there and show them what I can actually do. That first time I felt like I didn't do what I needed to do." Utoikamanu said he had "chilled" as a footballer since his Origin debut, having also represented Samoa since. But he has also made no secret of his desire to get back in a Blues jersey. It was a big part of the front-rower's thinking when he moved to Melbourne from Wests Tigers at the end of last year. Utoikamanu says "it's hard to say" if he would be playing this week had he stayed at the Tigers, as one of only two men to feature in Origin while at the club since 2018. Regardless, the Auckland-born talent knows the Storm move has helped, where he is now playing under NSW coach Laurie Daley's new adviser Craig Bellamy. "Coming to the Melbourne Storm has helped me a fair bit in trying to get back into this arena," Utoikamanu said. "It was one of the things I looked at when I was going to leave the Wests Tigers. "I feel like the Melbourne Storm have such a good system, and being in it now I'm happy I made the move. "There's a system there that's made a lot of players get better. A lot of players go there and become better, there's a lot of teams you can't say that (about). "Melbourne's one of those teams that when you go there you have to do the hard work, but when you do the hard work you're going to become a better player."
