Fijian French Top 14 centre Sireli Maqala has been re-committed to his club Aviron Bayonnais until 2030, in a new contract signed recently.
The duration of his contract extension is the longest yet maximum legal duration for a professional rugby player in France.
Maqala first joined Bayonnais in 2021, when the club was still in the Pro D2 competition and was instrumental in helping his team break through to the Top 14.
In the recent season of the competition, he was a starter in all his 20 appearances which proved timely as he scored 11 tries.
This made him the third highest scorer in the championship, tied with Baptiste Couilloud of Lyon, Nolann Le Garrec of Racing 92 and Émilien Gailleton of Pau.
Maqala is also an Olympic gold medallist, having played sevens rugby in the Tokyo Olympics in Japan in 2021.
During his stint with the team from 2021-2025, he made 19 appearances in 2021 when the team played in the Pro D2 level where he was starter in 17 matches.
In the 2022-2023 season when his side was promoted to the Top 14, he would play 20 matches for Bayonne, appeared as a starter 19 times, aiding his team as they left a record of 11 wins, eight draws and a loss.
In the 2023-2024 season, he played seven matches for the team and was a starter in three games, as they won three matches and lost four that season.
Bayonne also appeared in the Champions Cup, playing and winning their only match in the tournament.
Meanwhile, he has been named in the 32-member FIJI Water Flying Fijians squad facing the Wallabies and Scotland for the July Tests.
Sireli Maqala (holding the ball) in action for Aviron Bayonnais in the French Top 14 competition. Picture: AVIRON BAYONNAIS RUGBY/FACEBOOK
Sireli Maqala. Picture: AVIRON BAYONNAIS RUGBY
