Ireland’s Bundee Aki with family 2020. Photo: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan, ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan / PHOTOSPORT
British and Irish Lions midfielder Bundee Aki is excited to meet his new daughter, who was born in the back of a car while he was preparing for a test.
The New Zealand-born second-five said after the conclusion of the tour that his wife gave birth to their fifth child just hours before the first Test against Australia in Brisbane on 11 July.
Aki told reporters he was keen for a break and have some family time.
"I haven't seen my family for eight weeks. I have a newborn child who I haven't met yet," he said.
"Yep, a girl, she was born when we were playing in Brisbane, so I haven't met her. Her name is Aine, so I'm looking forward to going and meeting my newborn child and we'll go from there."
His wife Kayla was in New Zealand visiting family when she gave birth.
Aki said he was preparing for the opening Test (he was on the bench) when his wife messaged to say they were on the way to the hospital.
"Five minutes later, she sends a photo - her water had broken. I was like, 'Cool, OK, are you almost there?' This is like 30 or 40 minutes away from the hospital. I said, 'You'll be all right, Mum is there'.
"Ten minutes later, she video calls me and I was like: 'Sh*t, what's going on?' I saw a baby on the video call, so she had it in the car on the way to the hospital.
"She's a powerful woman, a strong woman. If you only knew the story of what happened, it's a funny story in itself."
He then had to refocus on the game.
"I knew it was good 'Juju' [a magical property bringing good luck]. I knew we were going to have a good day," he added.
"All my kids start with A and my wife loved the name Aine. That's five As in the family - Armani, Adrianna, Andronicus [their one son], Ailbhe, and now Aine."
The Lions won the first Test.
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