"I was born in Toulon": full of emotion, Jiuta Wainiqolo opens up before leaving RCT

While the RCT has made a habit of paying tribute to its starters each season, during the last match of the regular phase at home, Jiuta Wainiqolo said goodbye to Mayol on Sunday evening, after his recital against Bordeaux.

Accompanied by his partner, the 26-year-old Fijian (who will join Lyon next season) struggled to hold back his tears as the supporters shouted "Jiuta, Jiuta" , his teammates formed a guard of honor and David Ribbans and Bernard Lemaitre waited for him, twenty meters further, to give him a bouquet of flowers and a souvenir frame.

An emotional moment that Jiuta Wainiqolo will "never" forget.

When you handed over the bouquet of flowers, you seemed particularly moved...

It was my last match at Mayol, I'm still having trouble taking it in. There will probably be a play-off, but I don't know if I'll play or not. So if it was going to be the last, I wanted it to end with a great victory, before this tribute that I'll never forget... I was excited, I wanted to take one last moment of happiness. And give some. to this crowd. to these supporters. I was so happy on this pitch, I wanted to enjoy it a little longer...

When we hear you, we imagine that the week must have been difficult to manage?

I made sure not to think about it too much, because it would have made me too sad to perform well. So when I felt like I might falter, I tried to think about the match, the staff's instructions. I really wanted to leave Mayol with a smile, seeing the happy stands.

Now, what feelings are jostling around in your head?

(With reddened eyes, he asks for a few seconds to breathe.) I started my career in Toulon. But it's even more than that, really... I was 21 when Toulon called me. I was in Fiji, I was a little boy and I didn't really know where I was going. I was curious, a little scared. And here, I discovered a home. I loved everything about Toulon. The weather, the beauty of the region, the heart of the Toulon people, the club, this crowd. I was born in Toulon. The guys I met here over four years became my brothers. But not in the "friends" sense. No, really brothers. They took care of me, gave me a family for life. So I was really touched, overwhelmed to know that it was probably my last at Mayol. Nothing will ever be the same for me. I'll come back, with other colors, but it will be different.

With those of Lyon, in this case...

This is the life of a professional player, and I think Lyon can be a new adventure that will mark my life over time, but Toulon wasn't just a club for me... I'm very grateful for what Toulon gave me. It will always be home. I thank all the guys I met, all the supporters who loved me so much. That's why I was in tears after the match. I loved everything about my years at Toulon. Everything. And I'm going to miss everyone.

Given your attachment to Toulon, and with one year left on your contract, what finally convinced you to leave RCT?

A few weeks ago, I spoke with Pierre [Mignoni] . I explained to him that Lyon wanted me to come, that I wanted to play more regularly and I asked him what he thought. He told me that he would understand my decision, whatever it was. And he was frank, explaining to me that with the Jiff rule and the competition, I risked not playing more. I would have liked to stay, he knew that, but he told me that he could not guarantee me more playing time. So I thanked him for his honesty. I am a young player, I want to play rugby as often as possible, it is my whole life, and I considered that leaving Toulon was the right decision to make, at this point in my career, even if packing my bags will once again break my heart…