Fiji Olympic Sevens winner Maqala signs for Bayonne
Issued on: Modified:
Toulouse (France) (AFP) –
Sireli Maqala, one of the stars of Fiji's gold medal performance in the sevens at the Olympics, has signed a two-year contract with Bayonne, the French second division club announced on Thursday.
The versatile 21-year-old full-back, who went to Tokyo as the travelling reserve was a revelation for Fiji, scoring tries in the semi-final and in the 27-12 win over New Zealand in the final.
Maqala will team up with Fiji-born former All Blacks 7s winger Joe Ravouvou at the club.
Three of his gold medalist teammates will play in Top 14 next season: centre Vilimoni Botitu for Castres, winger Aminiasi Tuimaba at Pau and versatile full-back Jiuta Wainiqolo in Toulon.
Beaten in June by their Basque neighbours Biarritz in the promotion-relegation play-off, Bayonne will beging their second division campaign at the end of August against also-relegated Agen.
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