Tevita Tatafu has extended her contract until 2030 with Aviron Bayonnais. The Basque club announced it this Sunday evening via a video broadcast on its social networks. We see President Philippe Tayeb expressing his satisfaction, and the right pillar confirming the news. This is a new twist in a complex issue.
Last September, Tevita Tatafu signed a four-year contract with Bordeaux-Bègles. The 22-year-old French international (2 caps), who enjoys the status of Jiff (player from French training), was under contract until 2026 in the Basque Country, but he had an exit clause (500 000 euros) which he activated to join Yannick Bru, the manager who initiated his arrival at Bayonne in 2019.
“However, documents were signed…”
Laurent Marti discovered the Tongan's turnaround at the same time as everyone else, this Sunday. “However, documents have been signed…”, the president of the UBB simply replied to “Sud Ouest”. This file, which has perhaps not yet revealed all its secrets, is above all a war of egos. And agents.
-Personal resentments
Tevita Tatafu did have a clause of 500,000 euros in his contract. The same one that allowed Matis Perchaud to move from Rowing to UBB last summer. In fact, it is the players themselves who must pay the amount. In reality, clubs always find an arrangement, sometimes through the organization of a friendly match where the proceeds are left, in order to avoid paying charges on such amounts… which would automatically enter into the salary cap.
The arrangement is more complex when relations are tense, like the enmity between Philippe Tayeb and Yannick Bru. Pugnacious, the Bayonne president demanded that the player pay this sum. Laurent Marti took the matter personally. At the same time, Philippe Tayeb convinced his player, who had said yes to UBB, to sign a new contract. Checkmate?
Officers also played a role. Tevita Tatafu was followed by Frédéric Bonhomme, from the Wasserman company. Before returning this summer to Laurent Quaglia, a competing agent based in Bordeaux. The latter had already recovered, among others, Matthieu Jalibert in his portfolio. This new take has offended these market players. According to information from “Sud Ouest”, the last contract initialed by Tatafu does not have any clause. And as the agents are paid by the clubs, and not the players, the commission will go to Wasserman since Philippe Tayeb mandated the company on this file.
