Akira Ioane

Rio 2016 was Akira's first Olympic Games.

Akira Ioane, who was born in Japan, has rugby in his veins with his father Eddie a former Samoan international lock, while mother Sandra played for the Black Ferns. As a teenager Ioane was a stand-out for Auckland Grammar and the New Zealand Secondary Schools team before being snapped up by New Zealand Sevens in 2014 making his debut at Wellington. He ended the sevens season helping the team winning their 12th World Series title and a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He followed that up with selection for the Maori All Blacks. 

Ioane also caught the eye of Super Rugby coaches and enjoyed a stellar year with the Blues in 2015, appearing regularly in the blue jersey. That year he was also a key player in the New Zealand Under 20 team which won the World Championship title in Italy.