Taylor and Mealamu both said they are Ravens fans and are excited to see him in the purple jersey.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know your own family and they will be extremely proud of you,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cI can\u2019t imagine how much work you\u2019ve put in through college and all the work away from the field to get where you are today.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of work that has to go in to continue and chase the dream. I wish you nothing but the best. Just put your best foot forward and I\u2019m sure we\u2019re going to see your name popping up when that new NFL season rolls around.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mealamu said it will be special to see Ioane as part of the Ravens organisation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just wanted to wish you all the very best to you and your family,\u201d Mealamu said. \u201cNow you\u2019ve got to take that opportunity, you\u2019ve got to walk through that door and you\u2019ve got to show them what you\u2019re all about.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rieko Ioane<\/a>, who is currently in Ireland with Leinster, also offered an encouraging message.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember my first time making the All Blacks, it was such a special day for me, but more so my family,\u201d Ioane said. \u201cUs island boys carry our family\u2019s name everywhere we go and it means so much to us. <\/p>\n \u201cWork hard, push yourself every day, and again congratulations from myself, the All Blacks, and go Ravens.\u201d<\/p>\n Vega Ioane wore a beaming smile as he watched the clips.<\/p>\n There is a chance he could cross paths with Taylor and Rieko Ioane when the All Blacks come to town for their clash against the Springboks at the 71,000-seat M&T Bank Stadium on September 12<\/a>.<\/p>\n The test is the final of four matches on the Greatest Rivalry Tour. It will be the first time Baltimore has hosted a rugby test. The city was one of 27 to enter the application phase to host matches at the 2031 Rugby World Cup.<\/p>\n