Beto Mufaka, New Zealander at heart

Before arriving at Toulousan as a teenager, Beto Mofaka grew up in Noumea. From New Caledonia to New Zealand, it’s just a step or so, and the family grew up with the All Blacks, especially his father.

“My father recorded all the matches.”

Having come to rugby so late, there are still quite a few oval balls in the program at home. And for good reason, his father loved black people. “My father was a fan. He had tapes, and he would record all the matches. During the World Cup, watch New Zealand’s matches. I remember that in 2011, during the final against France, I was with New Zealand! I was following my father. I didn’t know anything about rugby, but since we were close to the island, we’d go on holiday there…and then there was the haka. When you don’t know anything, you support the best team.” Beto Mofaka smiles.

Special match on Friday

In November 2021, Beto Mofaka scored twice against these same Lions at the Stade de France. “I never called my family, but I called my mom the whole week before the game. I was nervoushe remembers. I would have loved to have my father there…” And this Friday, he must once again think a lot about his father, who died at the end of 2018. “Since he’s no longer here, I don’t really want to go back to Noumea. I already know that my life will be in France from now on.” VHS tapes are no longer in vogue, but if they were still, Beto Mofaka’s father would be very proud to record the match.