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Irish Six Nations Hopes Hit by Aki Ban
Bundee Aki received a six-week ban with two weeks suspended for verbal abuse of officials, missing four key games including Ireland’s first three Six Nations matches, the committee said.
- On Jan 29, 2026 Bundee Aki, Connacht centre and Ireland international, received a six-week ban with two weeks suspended, sidelining him for Connacht's Zebre Parma match and Ireland's first three Six Nations games.
- The ban stems from misconduct during Connacht's Round 10 BKT United Rugby Championship fixture on January 24 at Dexcom Stadium, Galway, where Bundee Aki remonstrated with referee Eoghan Cross multiple times and engaged with match officials after the game.
- Committee reasoning emphasised prior disciplinary incidents and absence of a plea, so the Independent Disciplinary Committee imposed a six-week suspension with two weeks suspended, noting Bundee Aki's full regret and right to appeal.
- Ireland head coach Andy Farrell's injury-hit squad lose a key centre as Aki's ban lands, following Hugo Keenan's hand injury ruling him out of the France opener; Aki will be available for the round-four Wales game in Dublin and the final two home Six Nations fixtures.
- Aki, a two-time British & Irish Lions centre with a prior three-game ban for comments to referee Ian Davies, is the third senior Ireland player cited recently following Mack Hansen and Johnny Sexton.
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Ireland insist door open for suspended Bundee Aki, as Tadhg Furlong remains major doubt for Six Nations opener
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.
·Ireland
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources16
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Left, 43% Center
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left, 43% of the sources are Center
43% Center
L 43%
C 43%
14%
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