Latest news with #Iro
1News
06-05-2025
- Sport
- 1News
NRL: Sharks centre Iro wants to be known by new name
The Cronulla player formerly known as Kayal Iro has explained his decision to change his first name midway through the NRL season. Iro made a tryscoring return from a hamstring injury in the Sharks' Magic Round win over Parramatta last Friday sporting a new name on Cronulla's team list. The 25-year-old has now requested he be referred to as 'KL Iro'. The centre is named after his father Kevin Leslie Iro, who enjoyed a decorated career in England and represented New Zealand with distinction. The left centre's official documents will still read "Kayal", but the Sharks flyer said he made the switch to 'KL' to avoid any doubt as to how his name should be pronounced. "Mum didn't want it to be a two-letter name when I was a kid," Iro said. "She's the one that changed it to 'Kayal', I think it was just foreign back then to have a two-letter name. "But my dad always wanted it to be 'KL' and I like it that way too because it's easier to pronounce and there's no confusion. "When I first moved to Australia, my dad wanted me to change it, but I've always been a shy guy. I was too scared to step on anyone's toes. "I guess I've built a bit of a relationship with these fellas now, so I asked the question and got it done pretty quick." Iro said the same applied to his surname, which was often mispronounced by commentators when his father and uncle Tony were playing. "Even my dad and uncle when they were playing, the Pommies would pronounce it 'aye-ro', rather than 'ear-ro'," Iro added. "He didn't care, he loved it but it's pretty cool to hear a commentator saying our family name." Iro was born in England while his father was playing for Leeds but spent most of his childhood growing up in the Cook Islands. While he hinted he would be open to facing the Kangaroos in the end-of-season Ashes series, he has other ambitions on his horizon. "I wouldn't say no but my first thing is getting the Cook Islands qualified for the World Cup next year," he said. "After my career, I want to move back there, relax, and live off the land." Iro and the sixth-placed Sharks (5-4) will face one of the most daunting challenges of their season to date when they travel to take on Manly (4-4) at Brookvale Oval on Sunday. "They've got a strong right edge and also [Tom] Trbojevic at the back," Iro said. "[Trboejvic] is a strike weapon in attack and things happen around him we've got to be aware of him."
West Australian
06-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Why Sharks centre Iro wants to be known by new name
The Cronulla player formerly known as Kayal Iro has explained his decision to change his first name midway through the NRL season. Iro made a tryscoring return from a hamstring injury in the Sharks' Magic Round win over Parramatta last Friday sporting a new name on Cronulla's teamlist. The 25-year-old has now requested he be referred to as 'KL Iro'. The centre is named after his father Kevin Leslie Iro, who enjoyed a decorated career in England and represented New Zealand with distinction. The left centre's official documents will still read 'Kayal', but the Sharks flyer said he made the switch to 'KL' to avoid any doubt as to how his name should be pronounced. "Mum didn't want it to be a two-letter name when I was a kid," Iro said. "She's the one that changed it to 'Kayal', I think it was just foreign back then to have a two-letter name. "But my dad always wanted it to be 'KL' and I like it that way too because it's easier to pronounce and there's no confusion. "When I first moved to Australia, my dad wanted me to change it, but I've always been a shy guy. I was too scared to step on anyone's toes. "I guess I've built a bit of a relationship with these fellas now, so I asked the question and got it done pretty quick." Iro said the same applied to his surname, which was often mispronounced by commentators when his father and uncle Tony were playing. "Even my dad and uncle when they were playing, the Pommies would pronounce it 'aye-ro', rather than 'ear-ro'," Iro added. "He didn't care, he loved it but it's pretty cool to hear a commentator saying our family name." Iro was born in England while his father was playing for Leeds but spent most of his childhood growing up in the Cook Islands. While he hinted he would be open to facing the Kangaroos in the end-of-season Ashes series, he has other ambitions on his horizon. "I wouldn't say no but my first thing is getting the Cook Islands qualified for the World Cup next year," he said. "After my career I want to move back there, relax, and live off the land." Iro and the sixth-placed Sharks (5-4) will face one of the most daunting challenges of their season to date when they travel to take on Manly (4-4) at Brookvale Oval on Sunday. "They've got a strong right edge and also (Tom) Trbojevic at the back," Iro said. "He (Trboejvic) is a strike weapon in attack and things happen around him we've got to be aware of him."
Perth Now
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Why Sharks centre Iro wants to be known by new name
The Cronulla player formerly known as Kayal Iro has explained his decision to change his first name midway through the NRL season. Iro made a tryscoring return from a hamstring injury in the Sharks' Magic Round win over Parramatta last Friday sporting a new name on Cronulla's teamlist. The 25-year-old has now requested he be referred to as 'KL Iro'. The centre is named after his father Kevin Leslie Iro, who enjoyed a decorated career in England and represented New Zealand with distinction. The left centre's official documents will still read 'Kayal', but the Sharks flyer said he made the switch to 'KL' to avoid any doubt as to how his name should be pronounced. "Mum didn't want it to be a two-letter name when I was a kid," Iro said. "She's the one that changed it to 'Kayal', I think it was just foreign back then to have a two-letter name. "But my dad always wanted it to be 'KL' and I like it that way too because it's easier to pronounce and there's no confusion. "When I first moved to Australia, my dad wanted me to change it, but I've always been a shy guy. I was too scared to step on anyone's toes. "I guess I've built a bit of a relationship with these fellas now, so I asked the question and got it done pretty quick." Iro said the same applied to his surname, which was often mispronounced by commentators when his father and uncle Tony were playing. "Even my dad and uncle when they were playing, the Pommies would pronounce it 'aye-ro', rather than 'ear-ro'," Iro added. "He didn't care, he loved it but it's pretty cool to hear a commentator saying our family name." Iro was born in England while his father was playing for Leeds but spent most of his childhood growing up in the Cook Islands. While he hinted he would be open to facing the Kangaroos in the end-of-season Ashes series, he has other ambitions on his horizon. "I wouldn't say no but my first thing is getting the Cook Islands qualified for the World Cup next year," he said. "After my career I want to move back there, relax, and live off the land." Iro and the sixth-placed Sharks (5-4) will face one of the most daunting challenges of their season to date when they travel to take on Manly (4-4) at Brookvale Oval on Sunday. "They've got a strong right edge and also (Tom) Trbojevic at the back," Iro said. "He (Trboejvic) is a strike weapon in attack and things happen around him we've got to be aware of him."
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Cronulla Sharks NRL star Kayal Iro reveals the heartwarming reason he has officially changed his name in the middle of the season
Cronulla Sharks star Kayal Iro has revealed he has decided to officially change his name to KL Iro in honour of his famous father. Speaking ahead of Magic Round this weekend in Brisbane, the 25-year-old confirmed it was something he always wanted to do, with KL the initials of his dad Kevin Leslie Iro, who was a hard-running centre for New Zealand. The Cook Islands international returns from a hamstring injury against the Eels on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium and hopes the change will make it easier for people to correctly pronounce his name. 'When I was a baby, KL was originally my first name. But my mum wouldn't let me leave the hospital until we changed it, so she changed the spelling of it,' Iro said. 'All my life, my dad would write KL .. When I moved over here (Australia), my dad always wanted me to change it, but I've just been too shy to bring it up. 'I feel like it's just easier to see and easier for people to pronounce. 'It's just KL – that's how it's pronounced. It's probably just more memorable, too. 'People will know me by my proper name.' Iro made his first grade debut in 2022 with the Sharks and quickly developed a reputation as a player on the rise. He was Cronulla's 2024 Rookie of the Year and appears destined for a lengthy NRL career - he also started the season in ominous form, scoring five tries in four games. His father played for Wigan, Leeds and St Helens in the English Super League - and such was his talent, Iro is considered a club great at all three clubs. He also played in the ARL for the Sea Eagles and in the Super League for the Hunter Mariners. In 1998, Iro was on the books of the Warriors before finishing his footy career with Saints in 2001. Across 352 professional games, Iro scored 178 tries in what was a decorated career.
West Australian
29-04-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
‘I've been too shy to bring it up': KL Iro explains why he's decided to change his name ahead of Sharks return
The Sharks will welcome back one of their brightest stars at Magic Round, but there'll be a subtle change when the team sheet is shown before kick-off with Kayal Iro deciding the time is right to go by his unofficial birth name. The strike centre will now go by KL Iro, although his name will remain Kayal on official documents. Iro revealed that this was something he always wanted to do, with KL the initials of his famous father Kevin Leslie Iro, who dominated for New Zealand. The Cook Islands international returns from a hamstring injury against the Eels on Friday night and hopes the change will make it easier for people to pronounce his name. It's a name we'll be saying for the next decade, with the young gun one of the most promising exciting backs coming through the system after a breakout 2024 and an even hotter start to this season before he got hurt. 'When I was a baby, KL was originally my first name. But my mum wouldn't let me leave the hospital until we changed it, so she changed the spelling of it,' Iro said. 'All my life, my dad would write KL ... When I moved over here (to Australia), my dad always wanted me to change it, but I've just been too shy to bring it up. 'I feel like it's just easier to see and easier for people to pronounce. 'It's just KL – that's how it's pronounced. It's probably just more memorable, too. 'People will know me by my proper name.'
