**Lions Rugby Star Bundee Aki Welcomes Baby Daughter Born in Back of Car on Test Match Day**
In a remarkable turn of events, Ireland and British & Irish Lions star Bundee Aki became a father for the fifth time as his wife delivered their daughter in the back of a car – just hours before he took to the field for a high-profile Test match against Australia. The dramatic birth unfolded while Aki was away on tour, adding to both the joy and challenges marking the end of an intense rugby campaign.
Aki, a linchpin of the Lions setup, played all three Tests during their Australian tour. The experienced centre revealed, following the final match in Sydney, that he has a new daughter named Aine. Despite her arrival coinciding with the first Test in Brisbane, Aki had not yet met his newborn at the time of his comments, with the family based in New Zealand during the international series.
Reflecting on the emotional whirlwind of the past weeks, Aki shared, “I haven’t been with my family for around eight weeks now and it’s been a long tour. To add to that, I have a child who was born while I was playing – and I haven’t even met her yet. I can’t wait to spend some family time, get to know my daughter, and decompress after a demanding season.” There was evident excitement in his voice as he spoke of meeting his baby, saying, “Her name is Aine, so I’m really looking forward to seeing her for the first time soon.”
This newest addition continues a personal tradition for the family, as all five of Aki’s children have names beginning with the letter A – Armani-Jade, Adrianna, Andronicus, Ailbhe, and now Aine. The Ireland international commented on the motif, “It’s always been the way – my wife chose the name, she loves it, and it fits right in.”
In recounting the extraordinary circumstances of the birth, Aki gave credit to his wife’s strength and composure. Speaking candidly to the media, he detailed the sequence of events: “First, my wife called to say contractions had started but her waters hadn’t broken yet, so she was headed to hospital. I thought we had a bit of time, and I went about our pre-match preparations.” He continued, “Not long after, my phone buzzes again, and she’s sent me a photo – her waters had gone, and they were still a fair distance from the hospital.”
Aki then described receiving a surprise video call from his wife just minutes later. “She was in the car, and suddenly she held up our new daughter on the video – she’d given birth in the car on the side of the road, with family there to help. It all happened so quickly, and thankfully both mum and baby were strong and healthy afterwards.”
Despite the understandable emotional upheaval caused by such news, Aki insisted that he had no difficulty focusing on the match in Brisbane once reassured that his wife and daughter were safe. He explained, “I just knew it was good luck – it was going to be a positive day. That news lifted my spirits, and I was able to get on with the job against Australia.”
This uplifting personal story adds a human dimension to the often-intense world of international rugby. It highlights the sacrifices made by players and their families – particularly the long periods spent apart – and gives a glimpse of the profound resilience shown by professional athletes and their loved ones.
As the dust settles on the Lions’ tour, Aki looks forward to reuniting with his family and embracing the newest member. “Rugby is a huge part of my life, but so is my family,” he concluded. “Now I’m ready for the next chapter – being a dad again to little Aine.”
The extraordinary chain of events is a poignant reminder that life’s most significant moments sometimes happen when least expected – even for rugby’s toughest competitors.