LEINSTER HAVE CONFIRMED that All Blacks and Blues centre Rieko Ioane will join the province next season.

28-year-old Ioane will arrive in Leinster at the end of this year for a seven-month stint, essentially replacing All Blacks team-mate Jordie Barrett who is currently on a similar deal at Leinster until the conclusion of this 2024/25 season.

Like Barrett before him, Ioane has taken up the sabbatical clause in his contract with New Zealand Rugby to accept a short-term deal in Leinster.

While Ioane has predominantly played in midfield in recent years, he started out as a wing, and Leinster have termed their new signing as a “utility back.”

“We are thrilled to confirm the signing of Rieko on a seven-month contract which will come into effect after this year’s Autumn Nations Series fixtures,” said Leinster head coach Leo Cullen.

“Similar to our current arrangement with Jordie, we’d like to thank the NZRU for their help facilitating the move.

“Rieko is a world-class, 81-cap All Black who has been operating at the very top level of the international game and Super Rugby for many seasons.

“He is an exciting, versatile outside back who will bring pace, rugby skills and experience to Leinster. That experience will add massive value to the group here and our younger players especially will learn so much from seeing how Rieko prepares, trains and plays.

“We can’t wait to welcome Rieko to Leinster, and I’m sure all our supporters will join me in making him and his family feel at home when the time comes.”

Ioane has played for New Zealand 81 times, initially making waves as a sensational try-scoring wing before he moved to outside centre in 2021, having already switched into the midfield with the Blues.

The Auckland Grammar product has continued to be a key man for New Zealand in recent seasons, helping them to the final of the 2023 World Cup.

Ioane clashed with Johnny Sexton after the Kiwis’ quarter-final victory against Ireland in Paris that year.

Sexton later revealed in his autobiography that Ioane had approached him after the final whistle and said, “Don’t miss your flight tomorrow. Enjoy your retirement, you c**t.”

Sexton said he walked after Ioane and called him “a fake-humble f***er.”

When New Zealand played Ireland last autumn in Dublin, with Sexton having retired but since joined their coaching staff, Ioane led the Kiwis’ haka for the first time ever.

After the All Blacks’ win, Ioane shared a photo of himself during the haka with the caption, “Put that in the book.”

Any Leinster fans who took a dislike to Ioane over those events will have to put that behind them with the Kiwi centre due to join Leinster after the 2025 November Tests.

Ireland will face New Zealand in Chicago at the start of that autumn window.

“I’m looking forward to this exciting opportunity to play in Ireland and in Leinster, and to grow my game with such an iconic club with a rich history,” said Ioane of his move later this year.

“I’m also looking forward to opening myself and my family up to new experiences away from home and to growing together in a new environment.

“I’d like to thank Leo and Leinster Rugby for the opportunity and NZRU and my Blues brothers. We’ve work to do yet this season, and I’m locked in for that, but I look forward to touching down in Dublin later this year and meeting all the Leinster supporters.”