Andy Farrell’s already depleted Ireland squad was thrown into further turmoil last month with the suspension of Bundee Aki for the first three games of the Six Nations.
Aki was banned for four games (including Connacht’s URC match-up with Zebre) for “verbal abuse and disrespect” towards the match officials in Connacht’s defeat to Leinster in Galway.
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It’s a major loss of experience for Ireland, and Aki would certainly have at least been in the mix to start if he were available.
Aki was removed from the Irish squad before his suspension was even confirmed, with Ulster’s Jude Postlethwaite replacing him and no timeline put on his potential return.
Intriguingly, despite ongoing concerns about discipline in the Ireland camp, Aki has received support from the coaching team. Last week, assistant coach Andrew Goodman said that Aki has “huge support” among the Ireland coaches, and that the door remained open for him to return to the squad before the end of the Six Nations.
Furthermore, it now appears as though Aki’s exile was not the call of Andy Farrell, judging by the Ireland head coach’s remarks on Tuesday.
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Andy Farrell reveals process of Bundee Aki’s removal from Ireland squad
22 November 2025; Ireland head coach Andy Farrell and Bundee Aki of Ireland after the Quilter Nations Series 2025 match between Ireland and South Africa at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Andy Farrell spoke to the Irish media who have travelled to Paris for the Six Nations opener against France on Tuesday, and was asked to comment on Bundee Aki’s recent suspension.
Farrell said that Aki has expressed remorse for the incident, before suggesting that he himself was frustrated with being in the dark on the process.
I spoke to Bundee, and he’s certainly sorry for what happened.
He’s apologised to the right people, he’ll be working hard at home. If needed, he’ll certainly be available for us down the track.
It was a big blow for any team, not just by his talent as a player, but his presence, his experience and all of that.
I was privy to what was going on behind the scenes, but I wasn’t being told what was happening, and I didn’t know what was happening as far as the URC, or the hearing, so I was told along the way what needed to happen.
Andy Farrell’s remarks would appear to suggest that it was not he who pulled the trigger on removing Bundee Aki from the Ireland squad, and that he was in the dark on the process that led to his four-game suspension.
Farrell would have needed to replace Aki regardless once his suspension was confirmed. However, there was more than a hint of frustration in the Ireland head coach’s admission about the process.
Regardless, Farrell knows that he will not be able to call on Aki until the fourth game of the Six Nations at home against Wales – by which time Ireland will already have played in Paris and London.
Difficult times ahead.
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