Ireland have declined to completely rule out the possibility of Bundee Aki featuring in the latter stages of the 2026 Guinness Six Nations, despite the experienced centre receiving a significant four-match suspension. The Connacht player was banned for "verbal abuse and disrespect" towards match officials following his province's United Rugby Championship loss to Leinster last weekend.
Suspension Details and Six Nations Impact
The disciplinary action, confirmed on Wednesday, means Aki will be unavailable for Ireland's opening three Six Nations fixtures. He will miss the challenging away match against defending champions France in Paris next Thursday, followed by the home encounter with Italy on February 14th, and the subsequent trip to face England a week later.
However, the 35-year-old will complete his ban in time to potentially be considered for selection for Ireland's final two championship matches. These are the home games against Wales on March 6th and Scotland on March 14th, both scheduled for Dublin's Aviva Stadium.
Coaching Staff Support and Selection Philosophy
Speaking from Ireland's pre-tournament training camp in Portugal's Algarve region, backs coach Andrew Goodman expressed the team's continued support for the banned player. "We've got huge support for Bundee," Goodman told assembled reporters. "I've worked with him for the last couple of years but known him a lot longer than that, so I know he's a great character. He's made a mistake and we're going to help him work through it."
Goodman strongly hinted that Aki's past contributions to Irish rugby would keep him in contention once available. "Of course, a player of Bundee's calibre that's done great things in the Irish jersey before will definitely be considered," he stated, while emphasising the immediate focus remains on the players currently in camp.
Midfield Alternatives and Incident Specifics
In Aki's absence, head coach Andy Farrell has called up uncapped Ulster centre Jude Postlethwaite to the squad. Farrell also has several other experienced midfield options at his disposal, including:
- Garry Ringrose
- Stuart McCloskey
- Tom Farrell
While Aki was penalised for dissent during Connacht's 34-23 defeat to Leinster, it is understood the specific incidents that triggered the suspension occurred after the final whistle. Goodman noted the matter was being handled separately by Connacht and the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), alongside the URC's disciplinary process.
"With it happening in the Connacht match and being dealt with by Connacht and the IRFU away from here, and the URC obviously being involved, I can't give you too much detail on the actual incident," Goodman explained, according to RTE Sport reports.
Respect for Officials Paramount
The coach reiterated the fundamental importance of respect within the sport. "We know respect is a massive part of the game we play and referees are obviously a big part of that as well. So, we take that very seriously," he affirmed.
In addition to his international ban, Aki must also sit out Connacht's upcoming URC fixture against Zebre this weekend. He did not travel with the Ireland squad to their Portuguese training base as a result of the disciplinary proceedings.
