He is the son of former Fijian rugby star Kele Leawere, who captained Fiji at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Hawke’s Bay fans will get one more chance to watch Walker-Leawere in action in Napier, when the Hurricanes host the Western Force at McLean Park on Friday night.
Italian rugby club Benetton Treviso unveiled their new signing on social media. Photo / Benetton Rugby
Walker-Leawere said he was looking forward to a new chapter.
“I’m incredibly excited to be joining Benetton Treviso and starting this new chapter in my career,” Walker-Leawere said.
“This move is also a great experience for my family and me, and we’re all looking forward to embracing life in Treviso.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the Hurricanes and Hawke’s Bay Magpies for everything they’ve done for me.
“Both organisations have played a huge role in my development as a player and as a person, and I’m very grateful for the support.
“I remain fully committed to the remainder of the Super Rugby season, and I’m excited for what’s ahead with Benetton Treviso.”
Walker-Leawere made his first-class debut with Poverty Bay while still at Gisborne Boys’ High School in 2015, playing one match in the Heartland Championship before spending three seasons with Wellington from 2016.
He joined Hawke’s Bay in 2019 and has played 50 matches for the Magpies, with whom he claimed the Ranfurly Shield twice and won the NPC Championship in 2020.
He is a long-serving member of the Hurricanes, and is a product of the club’s U18 and U20 teams before making his senior debut against the Brumbies in 2018.
The 28-year-old has since gone on to play 81 matches for the Hurricanes, making his 50th appearance against the Fijian Drua in 2023.
Internationally, Walker-Leawere has also represented the All Blacks XV, Māori All Blacks, New Zealand U20, New Zealand Schools, and New Zealand Barbarians Schools, and trained with and provided injury cover for the All Blacks in 2024.
He was part of the New Zealand U20 teams that won two Oceania Rugby U20 Championships and a World Rugby U20 Championship between 2016 and 2017, and has earned 14 caps with the Māori All Blacks since 2018.
While disappointed to lose a player of Walker-Leawere’s standing, Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw was supportive of his decision.
“Izzy’s a true Hurricane. He’s been at the club for a long time, is close to that 100-match mark, played all his rugby within the region, has been here since he was young, and he’s really grown into a mainstay and a real character within the team,” Laidlaw said.
“He can be bloody proud of his commitment and efforts in New Zealand, not only to us, but to Hawke’s Bay, the Māori All Blacks, and all the teams in black he’s represented. Who knows, he might turn up in the white jersey of Fiji at some point.
“We wish him all the best and look forward to him finishing strongly, starting this weekend against the Force in Napier, where he’s played a lot of his provincial rugby.”
