Irae Simone

  • 28Age
  • 193cmHeight
  • 102kgWeight
Caps3
Wallaby Number935
PositionInside Centre
Date Of BirthJuly 10, 1995
Place of BirthAuckland, New Zealand
SchoolMount Albert Grammar School, Auckland, NZ
Debut ClubUni-North Owls (ACT)
Other ClubNorthern Suburbs (Sydney), Clermont Auvergne (FRA)
ProvinceACT
Debut Test Match2020 3rd Test vs. New Zealand, Sydney
Other ProvinceNSW

Irae Simone is a skillful, big bodied second playmaker who has developed a subtle and balanced up-tempo attacking game to compliment his physically dominant defensive presence.

Although born and raised in Auckland, Simone’s rugby hero was Matt Giteau and, aged 11, he was filmed declaring his allegiance to the Wallabies. "I looked up to a lot of players in the All Blacks, but I've never wanted to play for the All Blacks, and my family are huge supporters of the Wallabies,” Simone said. In his secondary school years Simone attended Mount Albert Grammar School where he partnered future All Black Jack Goodhue in the 1st XV. Simone also played rugby league at Mount Albert where he figured in the 2013 national final loss to Kelston Boys High and was later chosen for New Zealand Schoolboys.

In demand from both codes, Simone eventually signed with the South Sydney and aged 18, waved goodbye to his family and flew to Sydney to pursue an NRL dream. He tallied an impressive 19 tries in 36 games for the Rabbitohs U20s however a growing frustration with being shifted around the backline coupled with a bout of depression saw Simone walk. His dad told him to come back home but he said. "Give me one more year'.

Simone considered other options when he received a call from Northern Suburbs coach Simon Cron. Playing at number 12 in a relatively anonymous Norths backline, Simone had an immediate and profound impact While the Shoreman won just four of their first eight matches they went on a stunning 13-game win streak and win their first Shute Shield in 41 years. Simone’s performances in that run caught the eye of Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson and as a result he was offered a Super Rugby contract. Simone made 10 appearances in his debut year but did not feature at all in 2019, a factor that promoted a move to south to the Brumbies.

Simone went on to form a strong centre pairing alongside Tevita Kuridrani as the Brumbies surged into the 2019 finals. He a rich run of form in 2020 as the Brumbies won Super Rugby AU before he earned a Test debut, against New Zealand in Sydney.

In 2022, Simone departed Australia for France when he signed a two year deal to play Top 14 with Clermont Auvergne.

Highlights

2020 Simone won his first Test cap at inside centre in the third Test, 5-43 loss to New Zealand in Sydney. He played a second Test, this time off the bench, in the 16-16 draw with Argentina in Sydney.

2021 His only cap of the year came in the second Test, 17-48 loss to Argentina in San Juan.

Irae Simone Wallabies headshot 2022