He was one of the biggest attractions of this first part of the Top 14 season: Sireli Maqala delighted all the rugby lovers that we are. Arriving in 2021 in France and Bayonne, the Fijian Olympic champion recently extended his contract with Rowing until 2028. But we learn that his French career could have taken the path of another club, a championship leader.
Indeed, in an interview with Midi Olympique, the center admitted that he had been attracted by a departure for…Bordeaux! Given his talent, he was courted by several championship teams, but the Bordeaux club particularly interested him. A transfer which, in the end, never came to fruition. And he explains why, and this choice is not only for professional reasons. On the personal side, his partner's attachment to the Basque Country also played a role in his choice not to leave Bayonne.
I wanted to go to Bordeaux, but the UBB was waiting for a response from one of its centers which was in contact with Toulouse (Yoram Moefana, courted by Stade Toulousain, finally extended with UBB). For my part, I didn't want to wait and I knew that my girlfriend didn't want to leave the Basque Country.
Family above all
Sireli Maqala's companion, Iduzki Dospital (daughter of the former pillar of the French team Peio Dospital) is obviously happy with the choice of Sireli Maqala since Aviron Bayonnais is not a club like any other for her. She would obviously have supported and followed her companion in the event of his departure, but let's say that this extension makes everyone happy: “jI obviously have a crush on Bayonne, since my dad was a player there then president and I made him understand that it would suit me if we could not leave. It’s Sireli’s career, so if it’s him who makes the final decision, but I supported the Bayonne file, yes.”
It is Philippe Tayeb, president of Aviron Bayonnais, who can thank Iduzki Dospital for having weighed in the choice of Sireli Maqala. The president of the Basque club is well aware that he could have lost one of his best players, that he thanks for having done, according to him, “the choice of wisdom and family stability“.
To summarize
Union Bordeaux-Bègles almost completed a very interesting transfer, by recruiting one of the attractions of the Top 14 in this first part of the season. The player explained in the press why this transfer, which interested him, did not happen.
