Eke Aiono joined the Nazareth rugby staff in the fall of 2025.
A 1991 Rugby World Cup veteran, Aiono brings an elite international pedigree to the sidelines. A rare double international, he has represented both his birth country of Samoa and the Japanese national team. His playing career included nine years of professional rugby in Japan, following a standout tenure in New Zealand where he represented Canterbury, New Zealand Universities, and Taranaki Secondary Schools.
In addition to his global playing experience, Aiono has extensive coaching experience at both the collegiate and club levels, having led programs at SUNY Geneseo and RIT, as well as the Rochester Aardvarks and the Rochester Colonials Club Teams. He is a fixture in the Rochester rugby community running rugby clinics, strength and conditioning programs, as well as youth and high school rugby camps.
