Pita Ahki: five French titles and two European Cups with Toulouse, now back home at the Blues

Few New Zealand-born players have a trophy cabinet like Pita Ahki's. In seven years at Toulouse the Auckland midfielder won five French championships and two European Champions Cups, starting six of those seven finals. Along the way he played under 20 rugby for two countries, won a Commonwealth Games silver medal in sevens, and played every match of Tonga's 2023 World Cup. In 2026, at 33, he came home to the Blues, the club where his professional career began, and he is in their 2027 squad while he recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Auckland and Kelston

Pita Jordan Ahki was born in Auckland on 24 September 1992, according to Wikipedia and his Blues profile, and he grew up in the city. He went to Kelston Boys' High School. He has Tongan heritage, which later made him eligible to play for Tonga.

Ahki has described himself as a reserved young man. "I'm a real shy person. I'm real quiet," he said on Martin Devlin's DSPN podcast in January 2026, as reported by Planet Rugby, explaining that leaving his parents and family to play overseas had been a big step.

Two countries at under 20

Ahki played age-grade rugby for both of his countries. In 2011 he was in the Tonga team at the IRB Junior World Championship in Italy, and on 14 June 2011 he scored a try and kicked a conversion against France in Padua, although France won 27-14. Wikipedia credits him with five appearances and 15 points for Tonga at that level.

A year later he was in the New Zealand Under 20 team at the 2012 Junior World Championship in South Africa, where New Zealand reached the final and finished runners-up to the hosts. Wikipedia lists five appearances for him in that campaign.

North Harbour and the Blues

Ahki made his provincial debut for North Harbour in 2011, and his performances in the ITM Cup earned him a place in the Blues wider training squad for 2013. Wikipedia credits him with 37 games and 35 points, seven tries, for North Harbour between 2011 and 2015.

He made his Super Rugby debut for the Blues in 2014, becoming Blue number 225, and played 13 games for the club in 2014 and 2015, according to the Blues.

Sevens silver

From 2013 Ahki also played for the New Zealand Sevens, appearing in seven tournaments up to 2016 by Wikipedia's count. In 2014 he was picked for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. New Zealand had won the sevens gold at every Games since the sport was introduced in 1998, but on 27 July 2014 South Africa beat them 17-12 in the final at Ibrox Stadium, the first time New Zealand had lost a Commonwealth Games sevens match. Ahki came home with a silver medal, alongside team-mates including DJ Forbes, Tim Mikkelson and Akira Ioane.

A year on the move

2017 took Ahki across three teams. He played once for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby, then signed for Waikato for the Mitre 10 Cup in August 2017, scoring 20 points, four tries, in six games by Wikipedia's count.

On 19 October 2017 the Irish province Connacht signed him as cover for Bundee Aki, who was expected to join Ireland for the November Tests. He played eight games for Connacht, and on 3 March 2018 it was announced that he would join Toulouse for the 2018-19 season.

Toulouse: seven titles

Toulouse became home for seven seasons. When he left, the club said he had played 157 matches and scored 23 tries for them, and that he had taken part in every one of their finals in that time.

The first came quickly. On 15 June 2019 Ahki started at inside centre in the Top 14 final against Clermont at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, in front of 79,786 people, and Toulouse won 24-18.

2021 brought a double. In February 2021 fans voting on the Top 14 organisers' website named him the competition's player of the month, with 68 per cent of the vote, according to the French Wikipedia record of the season. On 22 May 2021 he started at inside centre in the Champions Cup final against La Rochelle at Twickenham in London, played before a crowd limited to 10,000, and Toulouse won 22-17 for their fifth European title. A month later, on 25 June 2021, he started again as Toulouse beat La Rochelle 18-8 in the Top 14 final at the Stade de France.

On 17 June 2023 Toulouse and La Rochelle met in the Top 14 final again, and Ahki was at inside centre as Romain Ntamack's late try won it 29-26.

2024 was another double. On 25 May 2024 he started the Champions Cup final against Leinster in London, though he was replaced after 23 minutes, and Toulouse won 31-22 after extra time. On 28 June 2024 he started the Top 14 final against Bordeaux Bègles in Marseille, which Toulouse won 59-3.

His fifth Top 14 title came on 28 June 2025, when he was on the bench as Toulouse beat Bordeaux Bègles 39-33 after extra time at the Stade de France.

Tonga

New Zealand Rugby's policy of selecting only home-based players for the All Blacks led Ahki to switch his allegiance to Tonga in 2023, Planet Rugby reported. He first played for Tonga on 14 July 2023 against Australia A in Nuku'alofa, starting at inside centre in a 27-21 win alongside Charles Piutau, Israel Folau and Malakai Fekitoa. He then started Pacific Nations Cup Tests against Japan in Higashiōsaka on 29 July 2023 and Samoa in Apia on 5 August 2023, and a warm-up Test against Canada in Nuku'alofa on 15 August 2023, which Tonga won 36-12.

At the 2023 World Cup in France he started at inside centre in all four of Tonga's pool matches: against Ireland in Nantes on 16 September, Scotland in Nice on 24 September, South Africa in Marseille on 1 October and Romania in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, near Lille, on 8 October 2023. In the last of those he scored in the 62nd minute of a 45-24 win, Tonga's only victory of the tournament.

Wikipedia and all.rugby both credit him with seven Test caps for Tonga and one Test try, five points.

Home to the Blues

On 23 October 2025 the Blues announced that Ahki was coming home on a two-year deal for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. "I'm really excited to be coming home," he said, describing the Blues as the place where his rugby journey first started and adding that returning with his family meant a lot. The Blues' general manager of rugby called him a "world-class midfielder with immense experience in Europe" and "one of our own". His departure from Toulouse took effect on 1 December 2025.

He arrived knowing he was filling the outside centre place left by Rieko Ioane, who was on sabbatical at Leinster. "No one's automatic anywhere," Ahki said in January 2026. all.rugby records 14 Super Rugby appearances for him in 2026, nine of them starts, as the Blues finished fourth and reached the semi-finals. The Blues' records credit him with 28 games and 10 points for the club.

Auckland, and an injury

Ahki then played for Auckland in the 2026 NPC. On 8 August 2026 Auckland met Wellington at Western Springs Stadium in Auckland, and late in the game they trailed 31-29. Ahki, starting at inside centre, scored the try that won the match 34-31. all.rugby credits him with two tries in four games for Auckland that season.

During the NPC he ruptured an Achilles tendon, and the Blues have confirmed he is recovering from the injury.

Style and standing

Toulouse's farewell praised his powerful, dynamic style, his attacking power and his work in defence. The Blues, signing him, spoke of the "leadership and winning mentality" he would bring. He has also become an advocate for players spending time overseas, recommending "a year or two" abroad to New Zealanders who are not getting a look at international level.

Where he is now

Ahki is named among the midfielders in the Blues' 2027 squad, announced by new head coach Jason Holland on 28 October 2026, alongside the returning Rieko Ioane, Zarn Sullivan, Xavi Taele, Leo Gordon and James Cameron. The club said he remains sidelined with the Achilles injury. His contract runs to the end of 2027.

Career at a glance

Toulouse figures are from the club's farewell announcement; Blues figures from the Blues player profile; North Harbour, Waikato, Connacht and under 20 figures from Wikipedia; Auckland figures from all.rugby.