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. READ MORE: Connacht welcome new star back for big URC interpro trip to Ulster as players warned to stay focused READ MORE: Peter O'Mahony update with All Blacks clash around the corner for injured Munster star "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 an.