 Ioane in 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Montanna Wilson Ioane | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | (1994-10-30)30 October 1994 (age 31) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 93 kg (205 lb; 14 st 9 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Anglican Church Grammar School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Digby Ioane (uncle) Pete Samu (cousin) Ole Avei (cousin) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Montanna Wilson Ioane (Samoan pronunciation:[uɑːneɪ]; born 30 October 1994) is an Australian-born Italian professionalrugby union player who primarily playswing forLyon in theTop 14. He has also representedItaly at international level, having made his test debut againstWales during theAutumn Nations Cup. Ioane has previously played for clubs such asStade Français,Tasman,Bay of Plenty, andBenetton.[2]
On 22 August 2023, he was named in the Italy's 33-man squad for the2023 Rugby World Cup.[3]
Monty Ioane was born to aSamoan father, Paul, and aFijian mother, Vika, inMelbourne,Victoria.[4] As a young child Monty did not enjoy playing rugby and quit the sport until returning to it at age 12.[5] After receiving a scholarship,[6] Monty moved toBrisbane,Queensland to attendAnglican Church Grammar School at age 16. He stated that the decision to leave his parents in order to attendboarding school was difficult but his uncleDigby Ioane was already based in Brisbane and playing for theQueensland Reds. Monty Ioane played rugby while attending school and advanced to the Queensland Reds Academy.[7]
At age 18, Monty Ioane moved toParis, France, to play professionally. His uncle Digby had signed withStade Français and worked out a deal to have his nephew Monty sign to the club with him. In 2015, Digby shifted to playing in Japan while Monty moved to play in New Zealand.[7]
After spending time at the Queensland Reds Academy, Ioane moved to France in November 2013 after signing toStade Français,[8] and was a part of their U21 squad, the Espoirs.[9] Ioane played for the club in the first-tier FrenchTop 14 competition during the2014–15 season. He played six games for the club,[4] and has described his time there as "a learning process."[7]
In 2015, Ioane moved to New Zealand after he was recruited byDave Rennie, head coach of theChiefs inSuper Rugby, to join their developmental squad.[10][4] He played pre-season games with the squad in 2016,[7] playing against the development squads of theBlues andHurricanes,[11] and against theHong Kong national team in April.[12]
He signed to play for theBay of Plenty Steamers, but was immediately placed on loan toTasman Mako,[4] playing for them in the second-tier Championship during the2015 ITM Cup.[13]
Ioane played for the Bay of Plenty Steamers in the second-tier Championship during the2016 Mitre 10 Cup.[14] In the2017 season, Bay of Plenty reached the finals of the Championship but missed out on promotion after losing toWellington. That year Ioane caught the eye ofAntonio Pavanello, thesporting director of Benetton, who was looking to sign awing for his club.[15][9]
In November 2017, Ioane signed to Italian sideBenetton Rugby, making his return to Europe for the2017–18 Pro14 season.[16] He extended his contract with Benetton for a further two seasons until 2020.[17]
When the contract expired, he re-signed until 2022, making himself eligible for a call to the Italian national team. According to World Rugby's rules prior to 2018, Ioane was eligible from November 2020 after completing three years of residency in Italy.[18] In July 2020, for the first time, he was invited to take part to the Italian national team camp.[19]In December 2020, he made theItaly squad again.[20] He played withBenetton Rugby until September 2022.[21]
As of 8 November 2025[22]
He is the nephew ofDigby Ioane,[5] and is the cousin ofPete Samu,[4] both of whom have played for theAustralia national rugby union team, and is the cousin ofOle Avei who plays for theSamoa national rugby union team.[23]
Ioane has two daughters with his girlfriend Melisa Dasci.[24] Ioane was born into aCatholic family but has stated he wasn't religious.[25] While in Italy, aged 25, Ioane converted toIslam in June 2020 after meeting and being inspired by AustrianMMA fighterWilhelm Ott who had converted in April during theCOVID-19 lockdown.[26] Ioane described himself as being in his room and "having a low point in [his] life" when he turned to and spoke with his partner Melisa, who was born Muslim, who "started talking about God" leading him to take an interest in studying religion. After Ott messaged him one day, the two met for dinner where he learned of how Ott had changed his life in a positive direction.[25] Ioane later received religious assistance from Benetton teammateCherif Traore.[25][27]
He enjoys relaxing by playing the guitar or listening to music, and is an avid reader.[6]
| Season | Team | Games | Starts | Sub | Mins | Tries | Cons | Pens | Drops | Points | Yel | Red |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Rebels | 13 | 13 | 0 | 963 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 13 | 13 | 0 | 963 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | |
