As they look to defend their first ever Super Rugby title the Chiefs have bolstered their squad with the immensely talented Bundee Aki, a stand-out for Counties-Manukau in this year’s ITM Cup.
After helping the Steelers to victory in the Championship and earning promotion to next year’s ITM Cup Premiership, Bundee, who played in the midfield for Counties but is versatile enough to cover a number of positions in the backline, was quickly contracted by Chiefs’ Head Coach Dave Rennie.
A Bank Teller prior to becoming a professional Rugby Player, Aki was a member of the Chiefs Development Squad in 2012 and spent time training with the Wider Squad, but it was his compelling form for Tana Umaga’s side in the ITM Cup that catapulted the former New Zealand Under-20 trialist in to the Super Rugby frame.
With the departure of the game-breaking Sonny Bill Williams, a player who was hugely influential in the Chiefs’ 2012 campaign, the opportunity for Aki to cement a starting spot is very real, and the 22-year old is determined to seize that opportunity with open arms.
