Out-Half Ioane Joins Connacht For 2024/25 Season

Ioane arrives with vast experience at the highest level of Southern Hemisphere rugby with 72 Super Rugby caps between spells at the Chiefs most recently, and the Highlanders prior to that, scoring over 300 points in the process.

While playing for the Highlanders, the 28-year-old earned a call-up to the New Zealand squad for the 2019 Rugby Championship, making his international debut against Tonga that year and scoring eight points off the bench.

Ioane also featured for the All Blacks XV against Ireland ‘A’ at the RDS in November 2022. He previously played and scored against Ireland for the Māori All Blacks in both fixtures during Ireland’s summer tour that same year.

A versatile and dynamic playmaker, he has established himself as one of the most exciting out-halves in New Zealand.

He has also played regularly at full-back and occasionally at centre, providing Pete Wilkins with further depth in key positions.

Connacht head coach Wilkins commented: “We are thrilled to welcome Josh to Connacht next season. We were open about the need for additional depth at 10 following the injury to JJ (Hanrahan).

“In Josh we have secured a player with a wealth of experience and an excellent skill-set, that will both excite our supporters and complement our existing backs. We look forward to him joining the squad and helping us push for success next season.”