Former Nelson College captain signs with French team

Nelesoni Malaulau says his driving force is a desire to give back to his family for the help and support they have given him.

And having just signed a two year deal with France’s RC Vannes, he says his dreams are one step closer to reality.

“What I want the most is to buy a house for my parents.”

The young midfielder will fly out to France this week, less than a year after co-captaining Nelson College to a Miles Toyota championship title.

Having played this season for Nelson’s premier team in the Tasman Trophy, he says it’s exciting as it is nerve wracking to be taking on the next stage of his playing career.

“I got told about it by my agent three months ago. . . it’s pretty hard to keep a secret, but I told a lot of my close mates.

“That night when it got posted, my phone was blowing up. It was just a happy moment.”

While he says his dad, Faleulu, who was his first coach as a youngster is excited, his mum doesn’t want him to leave home just yet.

“I’m just nervous and excited. I haven’t left my family, ever.”

Nelesoni says he had “no idea” what he was doing when he left school at the end of last year, but knew he wanted to play rugby.

He and his agent had been working to get him a contract, working with contacts around the world in search of the perfect fit.

He says it’s daunting to be off to a new country and a new culture, but he’s walking on a well trodden path.

All Black John Afoa spent time with the RC Vannes club, playing 14 games, with a team that already boasts five New Zealanders.

Nelesoni says he’s already spoken to his new team mate and hooker Pat Leafa, who has offered to be one of his mentors to help make the move easier.

RC Vannes currently play in Frenchs’ second division, having finished fifth this season to qualify for the promotional playoffs for the Top 14 division having won 17 of their 30 regular season games.

While Nelesoni says his French isn’t “too good”, which was an understatement, he’s downloaded apps to help learn but still only really knows “bonjour and wei wei”.

On top of the excitement of going to a new place, is the desire to play rugby on the other side of the world.

He says they play a much different style of rugby in France and he’s looking forward to making his mark on the game while learning about a new culture at the same time.

“I got told about it by my agent three months ago. . . it’s pretty hard to keep a secret, but I told a lot of my close mates.

“That night when it got posted, my phone was blowing up. It was just a happy moment.”