Bundee Aki joins a very select group of players when he lead Connacht to the PRO12 title. The PRO12 player of the year has been instrumental all year, and in winning the tournament he becomes one of only a few players to have won both the PRO12 and a Super Rugby title.
Bundee Aki has now won the Pro12 title as well as the Super Rugby title. Can't be too many players who have done that.
— Cian Tracey (@CianTracey1) May 28, 2016
Cian's right - there aren't too many players who have done it. There are now exactly eight.
There was a lot made of Brad Thorn becoming the first player to win the World Cup, the Super Rugby title. But Brad never won the PRO12, Leinster lost the final to Ospreys the week after destroying Ulster in his only Heineken Cup final.
Of the eight players who have won the PRO12 and Super Rugby titles - five have played for Irish provinces, and five are from New Zealand. They are
- Zane Kirchner - who won the PRO12 with Leinster in 2014, and Super Rugby in 2009 and 2010 with the Bulls
- Doug Howlett - who won the PRO12 with Munster in 2011, and Super 12 in 2003 with the Blues.
- Justin Marshall - who won the Celtic League with the Ospreys in 2006/07, and five Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders.
- Kahn Fotuali'i - who won the PRO12 with the Ospreys in 2012, and Super Rugby in 2008 with the Crusaders
- Jamie Nutbrown - who was a squad member for the Ospreys when they won the Celtic League in 2010, and a replacement for the Crusaders when they won in 2006.
- Justin Harrison - who won the Celtic League with Ulster in 2006/07, and Super Rugby in 2001 with the Brumbies.
- Jim Williams - who won the Celtic League in 2002/03 with Munster, and Super Rugby in 2001 with the Brumbies becoming the first player to win both.
Bundee Aki was a replacement for the Chiefs in the 2013 Super Rugby final, before starring for Connacht this year.
Hold on to that nugget for pub quizzes everywhere.
See Also: The Biggest Departure From Connacht This Summer Won't Be Robbie Henshaw
Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
