New Zealand centre Rieko Ioane will join Leinster next season from the Blues in Super Rugby on a sabbatical, it has been confirmed.
The 28-year-old has played for the Auckland side since 2016, making his All Blacks debut in the same year.
Writing on Instagram on Wednesday, Ioane said: “Whats [sic] up fam just wanted to announce, I’ll be heading to Leinster at the end of the year on a sabbatical break.
“It’s an exciting opportunity to play in Ireland for an iconic team, grow my game and experience something different with my family.
“Will be back refreshed and ready to rock second half of 2026. Until then locked in with my blues brothers.”
Ioane will spend six months in Ireland from December before returning to New Zealand and follows in the footsteps of international team-mate Jordie Barrett, who joined Leinster on a similar deal this season.
The Blues said on X: “120 game Blues veteran Rieko Ioane has taken up the sabbatical clause in his contract and will spend next season at Leinster.
“We will have him back in (the right) blue in 2027. Still got work to do this year.”
Ioane will rejoin the Blues in Super Rugby after next season
The transfer is the latest in a run of big-name Leinster moves.
The Dublin-based province previously signed Springbok lock RG Snyman from rivals Munster when the latter were forced into a choice between Snyman and Jean Kleyn – Kleyn Irish-qualified until being recaptured by South Africa in 2023.
Snyman’s contract – reported upon his initial signing as being a one-year only deal – has also been renewed despite Leinster locks James Ryan and Joe McCarthy now both having central IRFU deals.
Leinster have also renewed the contract of French tighthead prop Rabah Slimani for next season, a move that angered some outside the province after new IRFU performance director David Humphreys had stated no Irish province would be allowed to sign NIQ (non-Irish qualified) front-row players from 2025/26 onwards, albeit before softening the stance to say signings would be agreed on a case-by-case basis.
Ioane – like Jordie Barrett before him – arrives despite Leinster’s midfield options including Ireland internationals Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw.
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