A former Manu Samoa 7s player, Elijah Niko who currently plays professionally for Stade Aurilacois in France, has defended former Manu Samoa captain, Vaafauese Apelu Maliko's decision to sign with a third division club in France.

In response to questions from the Samoa Observer, Mr. Niko emphasised that Va'afauese can still play for the Manu Samoa Sevens team as it's allowed by conditions of his contract.

"Firstly I want to make clear that Va’a Maliko’s contract with his new club also allows him to still play for the Manu Samoa 7s team. His club states on his contract that of course he is to participate in the Oceania games and also the Olympics if Samoa qualifies," he stated.

"His contract does not stop him from playing with the Samoan 7s team. With the earnings that Va’a is making, unfortunately I can’t tell the exact numbers because it’s a private matter for only Va’a but what I can say is that with his whole package he will be the highest paid player in his club which he deserves."

Mr. Niko who is currently playing with Va'a in France added that Va’a also signed a lucrative endorsement deal with a French company as well as another upcoming big sponsorship deal.

He was also queried on the specific cost of Vaafauese's French contract but because he can not reveal Va’a's private matters, he also could not reveal exact numbers out of respect to Va’as privacy. 

"His sponsorship deal again he deserves as these companies were not only impressed by Va’a s talent in rugby but most importantly the way he conducts himself outside of rugby. His image in the rugby world is an example of what a professional should be with so many young Samoan kids who aspire to be like Va’a," Mr. Niko said.

Mr. Niko first met Va’a when he joined and played for the Manu Samoa 7s team this year in London which was his first time representing Samoa alongside Va'a. He represented Samoa previously before London with the Manu Samoa this year.

He stressed that he was very impressed to see how amazing Va’a and the whole Manu Samoa 7s squad.

"I’ve never seen so much talent before," he said.

He has been playing professionally in France for over 10 years playing for Section Paloise (Top 14), Béziers and now Stade Aurillac. 

Having gained enough experience in France, Mr. Niko explained that the system in France is quite different than what people think as it is structured differently than what players are used to back in New Zealand. 

The first, second and third division teams are all professional teams, he emphasised.

"In France they have rules where you can have a limited number of “foreign” players you can have in a team which makes it limited to the amount of foreigners that can play here which is also the same in Japan for example," he explained. 

"France has a system where there is “promotion and relegation” where if a team in the third division wins their competition they can be promoted to the second division and same things for a team in second division that wins their competition they can get promoted to the first division."

"Va’a’s club Chambry is an ambitious club who wants to get promoted and with that they made some very big signings including players like Fijian international winger Vereniki Goneva just to name a few and of course Va’a Maliko who they were very interested in. Which shows how much this club wants to get promoted.

"Va’a first and foremost wants to make a good life for his family and he has the opportunity to do so and of course his decision is based on himself and his family and everyone should respect this and should support him. He has given so much to Samoan rugby as the captain of the 7s team and he’s earned everything that he has. Va’a has made headlines here in France as well and so many people are excited for his arrival. I want to finally make it clear again that Va’a can still play for the Manu Samoa 7s team! He is not finished with the 7s. He is simply playing for his club in France to make a good income for himself and his family also which I feel is a good decision for him. 

"I also want to say as a Samoan man myself I understand how the system in rugby works overseas here and also the talent there is in Samoa and the opportunities that rugby players in Samoa can get if they had someone to guide them in the right path."

According to Mr. Niko, this is something he aspires to do when he retires as he believes he can make an impact to help and give local talents, especially Samoans, enough knowledge to grab the opportunities to make a living and get what they deserve.