Ireland insist the door is not closed on Bundee Aki’s international career following the four-game ban that was handed down to the Connacht centre for a misconduct charge relating to his behaviour towards the match officials around last weekend’s URC defeat to Leinster. Aki did not travel to Portugal, where the Ireland squad are training ahead of next Thursday’s Six Nations opener in Paris, which tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong is a major injury doubt for, and while Aki (35) will miss the first three games of the campaign, he could come in contention for the home clashes with Wales and Scotland in round four and five.

Source: Irish Independent January 29, 2026 16:43 UTC