Source: Radio New Zealand
Is Antoine Dupont the best player in the world? Former team mate Pita Ahki says yes, having been there for the French halfback’s rise to prominence as a team mate at French Top 14 powerhouse Toulouse.
“Yeah I do,” said Ahki at his first official media engagement for the Blues, after playing his 131st and final game for Toulouse only three weeks ago.
“There’s a lot of good rugby players out there but some of the things he does are just out of this world. It’s cool that I got to play with him.”
Ahki is getting ready for his first season of rugby in his hometown of Auckland in a decade, after debuting for North Harbour back in 2011. One-season stints at the Blues and Hurricanes followed, before he signed with Irish province Connacht – somewhat fittingly as a fill in while Bundee Aki was called up to the Irish squad. However, that ended up being a short stay of only eight games before he was signed by Toulouse.
It’s at this point, where Aki had already played for three different top domestic sides and two NPC provinces, that the tag ‘journeyman’ would’ve fitted. But the move to the south of France finally gave the Kelston Boys’ High product the sort of stability he had been craving.
Tonga’s inside centre Pita Ahki dives across the line to score a try during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Tonga and Romania at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, near Lille. AFP
In his time in Toulouse, Ahki was part of five Top 14 championship and two Champions Cup campaigns, making him one of the most successful domestic players in the modern game. As well as Dupont, he also lined up alongside French stars Thomas Ramos, Romain Ntamack, Peato Mauvaka and Anthony Jelonch, as well as Italian Ange Capouzzo and Argentine Juan Cruz Mallia.
“When I started there I didn’t really know much about French rugby. The likes of Dupont and Ntamack started off their careers when I arrived, and now they are the players they are. It’s a privilege to be part of their journey.”
There was a bit of a blueprint laid for Ahki by fellow veteran midfielder Bryce Heem, who returned to the Blues after spending six seasons in England and France. Heem was drafted back in by Leon MacDonald initially as injury cover in 2021, then ended up playing 41 games over the next three seasons including coming off the bench in the Blues’ breakthrough 2024 Super Rugby Pacific final win.
Bryce Heem of the Blues is tackled by Josh Flook of the Reds. Darren England/Photosport
Ahki said that family was the reason for the return home, plus the ‘grind’ of the Top 14 season that can see upwards of 30 games.
“My kids are getting older, we want to put them through New Zealand schools…Toulouse has a quality team and they have guys to replace me.”
Even still, the farewell Ahki received from the passionate Toulouse fans surprised him when full house at Stade Ernest-Wallon chanted his name for a full minute.
“I was expecting a round of applause and maybe a little video, but they went really over the top. The Frenchies love to feed off the emotion.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
