Rieko Ioane Set for Leinster Debut as Champions Cup Begins

The much-anticipated debut of Rieko Ioane for Leinster is set to take place this weekend as the Champions Cup kicks off. The 86-cap All Black will join his new team for their home opener against Harlequins on Saturday, October 7, 2023. Although he faced challenges with the All Blacks this past season, his arrival brings a wave of excitement for the reigning United Rugby Championship (URC) champions.

At a recent launch event for the 2025-26 Champions Cup season, Leinster and Ireland fullback Hugo Keenan expressed his surprise at the move, noting the lack of rumors leading up to Ioane’s signing. Keenan highlighted the significance of this acquisition, especially following the impressive performance of fellow All Black Jordie Barrett last season.

“I was surprised there were no real rumours,” Keenan stated. “The fact that Jordie was so good means there’s high hopes; the pressure’s on for him to fill his boots.”

The signing of Ioane has stirred mixed feelings among Irish rugby fans, largely due to his contentious history with the national team. This stems from an incident following the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final, where Ioane reportedly told Irish captain Johnny Sexton to “enjoy retirement” after the All Blacks secured a narrow 28-24 victory. This exchange, revealed in Sexton’s autobiography, led to Ioane becoming a polarizing figure among supporters.

Despite the controversy, Keenan emphasized the team’s enthusiasm about integrating Ioane’s talent. “We’ve had our rivalries in the past… Johnny Sexton might not have been delighted, and people might have different opinions, but as players, we’re just excited to have that calibre and talent in the group,” he explained.

Keenan also expressed confidence in Ioane’s potential to replicate Barrett’s success, noting that he possesses unique attributes that could enhance Leinster’s game. “Rieko’s got the potential to do the same… He’s a serious player,” he added.

Leinster will commence their Champions Cup campaign on Saturday at 17:30 local time against Harlequins at the Aviva Stadium. Following this match, they will travel to Leicester to face the Tigers, before hosting Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle and journeying to Bayonne in January 2026.

With the Champions Cup now underway, all eyes will be on Ioane as he aims to make a significant impact in his debut match for Leinster, a team looking to maintain its strong reputation in European rugby.