However, with Gloucester having just played away at Saracens and Worcester and travelling to Harlequins this weekend, it wasn't to be.
Speaking to Nick Purewal of the Gloucester Citizen, the 32 year old admitted that he'd be leaving Gloucester with a heavy heart but that it's the right thing to do at this stage of his career.
"I would have loved to stay at Gloucester, and to leave is so tough, leaving close friends and great people behind.
"But I've also go to think about my family, my future in rugby, and my security. "It was too good an offer to turn down to be honest.
"We're rugby players and we need to play regularly, that's how we do our job and our passion fully. You always respect selection, but also, you've also got to play regularly if you can.
"So La Rochelle can offer me the chance to play week in, week out, and there's a very real chance I can help take the club back to the Top 14."
Before he left though, he wanted to properly thank the Gloucester faithful for the support they've given him throughout his Gloucester career.
"I will take all the supporters' memories with me wherever I go for the rest of my life. I felt so humbled when I arrived that the fans would respond to me the way they did.
"They seemed to understand straight away that I would always give 100 per cent for the shirt and the club, and I was very surprised they would show me the support they did.
"It only confirmed that I had made the right choice in joining Gloucester, and it has been a fantastic place to be for both myself and my family.
"So I wanted to say a proper goodbye to them all, and a massive thank you for helping make my time at the club so special."
And what memories will he take aay with him?
"There are so many great moments that I'll never forget, too many to mention to be honest.
"My first ever game for the club will really stand out, and there have been so many massive games at Kingsholm, with the fans going wild, and just playing at home, in any match, was a special privilege.
"Coming off the bench last season to get that winning try against Leicester, the Shed went crazy when I went over in that corner, and that felt unbelievable.
"I had always had a special bond with the supporters at Bradford, and I wondered whether I would be able to have the same again somewhere else.
"But that first game, the response was so great that I knew even then that I would have great support again, and it made me feel special."
And finally, some heartfelt thanks:
"I would like to say thank you to Lance Bradley from Mitsubishi, the guys from JS Security, Richard Jacobs and the Raging Bull team, James at Nando's Gloucester and Ian Underhill from Subtone.
"They are all good friends who have looked after me and my family.
"And I want to say thanks to my Boys, they'll know who they are.
"All the staff and fans at Kingsholm have been brilliant, and I want to thank them for their support too.
"Anyone I've missed out, I haven't done on purpose, and I will keep them all in my mind forever."
