British and Irish Lions player Bundee Aki has revealed an extraordinary event where his wife unexpectedly gave birth to their fifth child in the car while he was playing in Australia. Aki, who was participating in his second Lions tour in Australia, shared that his wife was en route to the hospital after experiencing contractions when her water broke, leading to the unexpected birth of their child while still on the road, just ahead of the First Test in Australia.
Their newest addition, named Aine, was born in the back of a car in New Zealand while Aki’s wife had traveled there to visit family while he represented the Lions. Despite the remarkable circumstances, Aki had not met the new family member during the final weeks of the tour, which culminated in the Lions’ series victory after 12 years.
Reflecting on the unexpected birth, Aki expressed his admiration for his wife and recounted the moment when he received a call from her indicating the sudden turn of events. Despite being away from his family for eight weeks and missing the birth itself, Aki remained positive, acknowledging the strength and health of both his wife and newborn.
Aki’s wife’s surprise delivery coincided with the Lions’ successful start in the First Test, where Aki came on as a substitute in the 57th minute, contributing to the team’s 27-19 triumph. His belief in the positive energy surrounding his family’s naming tradition, with all five children’s names starting with the letter “A,” further reinforced his confidence in the team’s performance.
Although the Lions fell short of a clean sweep in Australia following a spirited effort by the Wallabies in Sydney, Aki continued to play a pivotal role in the team’s midfield alongside Huw Jones. Despite the loss, Aki remained optimistic and attributed the fortunate turn of events to the good luck associated with his expanding family.