European send-off for veteran prop Afoa as he heads to Gloucester’s rivals

John Afoa said his farewells to Gloucester’s Kingsholm faithful a few weeks ago after a disappointing derby result against Bath. However, Monday’s training session, held in glorious sunshine as fans sought photos and autographs on the pitch, allowed for one final goodbye ahead of tonight’s Challenge Cup final against Cardiff Blues.

“You see the same faces every week,” said Afoa. “There’s a guy called Mike and his two daughters who come to every home game, and get here three hours early just for some signatures. I’ve seen them here for the last four years straight, so they must have thousands and thousands of signatures. They come from an hour and a half away. Those families and many more, it’s nice to say hello and goodbye to them at the same time.”

Next season, Afoa will be back at Kingsholm, except in the colours of local rivals Bristol on their return to the Aviva Premiership.

There was a point where Afoa wondered if he would be playing at all. Offers were thin on the ground, even for a tighthead with 36 New Zealand caps and a Rugby World Cup winners’ medal.

He describes the approach from Bristol, now led by an old friend in Pat Lam, as a lifeline.

“As a kid, I just wanted to play for Auckland and the Blues, and that would be it,” Afoa says. “I came to a place in my career during my late 20s where I felt like I wanted to be playing every week. I didn’t want to be burning good years watching the games.

“I loved every minute in New Zealand, but then came Ulster, then Gloucester, and I thought that would be it. Then my old mate Pat moves down the road and he throws me a lifeline.

“When you get to 34, 35, there are not a thousand clubs circling.”

Before making the move down the M5, Afoa has his sights set on a “fairy-tale ending” to his time with Gloucester in Bilbao.

He admits the arrival of coach Johan Ackermann has allowed the team to throw off the shackles. “When he turned up, I knew what Johan was after, which is why I have enjoyed the season so much,” Afoa added.