Reiko Ioane joined Leinster on a short-term deal for the 2025/26 season, and things haven’t been going as positively as expected for the All Black.
Questions have been raised over whether the outside back should be in the squad at all, but questions have been consistently raised on whether he should be wearing the 13 shirt when he does play.
Reiko Ioane’s rise to rugby superstar
Ioane grew up in Auckland and, along with his older brother Akira, was rugby mad. He went to Auckland Grammar School, one of the most famous rugby schools in the world and was on their 1st XV from the age of 16. While still at school, Ioane was selected to represent New Zealand in sevens and was named All Blacks Sevens player of the year in 2016. In the same year, Ioane made his Super Rugby and All Blacks debut when he came off the bench against Italy.
From there, the youngster became a stalwart on the wing for the Blues and All Blacks, but gradually shifted to 13 throughout his career.
The famous Leinster 13 shirt
Leinster’s outside centre or 13 shirt is iconic. This is mostly down to two men who have also been iconic in the 13 shirt of Ireland. Brian O’Driscoll is one of the greatest 13’s in history, and after his retirement, handed the shirt off to Gary Ringrose. Both local lads were full of skill, pace and charisma on the ball.
Ioane was coming in at a time when Leinster were recovering from their huge Lions involvement. The Lions’ burnout was evident at the start of the season, and many expected Ioane to come in and fill the void.
The styles of European and southern hemisphere rugby could also be a factor. Ioane was an excellent 13, where the open style of play of Super Rugby created as much space for him as if he were a winger. It is common for wingers to move to 13 throughout their Super Rugby careers. Recently, we have seen this with players like Will Jordan and Leicester Fainga’anuku making the move inwards to the 13 shirt for the Crusaders. In Europe, this isn’t a common transition.
Leinster’s big finish to the season
Leinster have a huge end to their season, particularly after their loss to Benetton. They have a prop-injury crisis on their hands, as well as questions about the 13 shirt. Leinster currently sit fourth in the URC and could face an away quarter-final if they don’t perform well in their final two league games. The match against Toulon at the Aviva Stadium would be a season-defining victory if they managed it. A place in Bilbao for the Champions Cup final against either Bordeaux or Bath would allow Leinster to finish the season on a potential high.
If I were in Leo Cullen’s shoes, I would play Ioane on the wing against Toulon with Ringrose at 13. This would, unfortunately, see one of the O’Briens, who have been so good recently, drop to the bench.
