Former party lover Josh Ioane explains reason for his quieter life following move to Connacht
Once the owner of a 'Dunedin party house', as dubbed by local media, the once-capped All Black has turned things around and has started his Connacht career in hugely promising fashion
Josh Ioane says that the loss of his father and birth of his daughter in the space of a fortnight was the catalyst for him to leave behind his old partying ways and to grow up.
Connacht's exciting new No.10 got himself into trouble in what local media dubbed his 'Dunedin party house' in 2021.
The antics of a number of Highlanders - Ioane included - saw them stood down by the club after the police were called to a party at the one-time All Black cap's house after a loss to the Hurricanes.
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"I think about that sometimes," said the 29-year-old, now happily settling into a new life in Galway with his partner and their young daughter, and with another baby due in January.
"My partner and I, we talk about, 'Ugh, a few years ago we were doing this,' and 'a few years ago we were doing that'. Now, I barely even drink at all. I think becoming a father has played a big part in that. I love being a father. My daughter's one and a half now.
"I've been through a lot over the last couple of years. I lost my father last year and then I became a father two weeks later. And I think when you go through something like that, you're forced to grow up pretty quickly.
"So, when I look back on that I feel I've learned from that. Like I said, I've been through a lot in the last couple of years and I feel like I'm coming out the other side a lot more mature.
"This is a big move for my family and me and I'm just trying to make the most of it, trying to make the best of it. The people here have been unreal and we're enjoying it a lot."
He has already been out on the golf course with new team-mates Bundee Aki, Piers and Peter Dooley and is enjoying visiting Galway cafes to play cards and drink coffee with colleagues - as well as get involved in PlayStation hang-outs "It's just putting myself into different groups here and there," he said.
Ioane missed last week's victory at Scarlets but will return for Saturday's trip to Ulster as Connacht look to build on back to back victories.
The one blip so far was the opening loss at Munster but he linked really well with Ben Murphy in a new half-back partnership and Connacht fans are optimistic for how the team can go this season.
"I feel like going to a new club, new people, the most important thing is to earn your teammates' respect," said Ioane. "I remember coming off the field, I was telling Ben, 'Man, I was so nervous for this game'.
"It meant a lot because I've come across the world, new people, and I just wanted to earn my new teammates' respect, like I said. Hopefully I got it, and hopefully I can continue to do that going forward."
In terms of his playing philosophy, Ioane wants to play the game he played as a kid, albeit he knows that there has to be some evolution at his new club.
"Just chatting to the coaching staff before I came over, it just felt like the way Connacht like to play the game is the way I play the game: running the ball -- kicking when you need to but also not being afraid to move the ball if we want," he said.
"I definitely like to run the ball. I feel like since I was a kid that's just what I like to do and I enjoy it, and it's just finding that balance with the kicking and running is definitely something that I'll work on and try not to get carried away, just putting my general hat on and sitting in the pocket and using my boot.
"But running the ball, getting on the front foot, playmaking, that's the sort of stuff that I enjoy.
"I feel the team here is really good, really skillful, and their ability to move the ball makes my job a lot easier."
Connacht boss Pete Wilkins is delighted to have Ioane on board, having been really impressed when he scouted him for Andy Farrell ahead of Ireland's games against the New Zealand Maoris in the summer of 2022.
"We’re lucky to get him at that stage and with the maturity life-wise and rugby-wise that comes when you are a little bit further down the track," said Wilkins.
"But I think what we were able to offer him was an ability to experience European rugby, somewhere that’s really easy to settle as a foreign player - not just Connacht the club, but Connacht the place in terms of the welcome you get, the support, and being that little bit smaller.
"In terms of a landing, it’s been pretty positive and hopefully he kicks on from here."
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