Lyon (AFP)
After breaking his contract for the coming season with Toulon, Mathieu Bastareaud will raise a new challenge in the Top 14 before rallying New York at the end of the year: in Lyon, which made official Wednesday his coming as "joker World Cup ".
The premiere of the announcement was given to the subscribers of the club lyonnais, during the evening which was reserved for them Wednesday evening: Bastareaud will put down his suitcases for about four months the season to come to LOU, semi-finalist of the championship these two last seasons .
"If he has made a name for himself thanks to his power and his qualities of rugby, Mathieu Bastareaud, who was the captain of the RCT since 2017, is also a leader," writes the LOU in a statement.
The powerful center (30 years, 54 sel.) Will find Pierre Mignoni, current Lyon manager who was his coach in Toulon from 2011 to 2015.
Mignoni and Lyon have won the race, while the names of Stade Français and Montpellier have also circulated to welcome Bastareaud before his departure for New York and Major League Rugby, for a season.
Initially, "Basta" was not to find the Top 14. His plan was simple: fly directly to the United States after the World Cup in Japan (20 September-2 November) and some holidays.
But he was upset, June 18, by the announcement of his non-selection in the group of 37 players retained by the coach of the XV of France Jacques Brunel to prepare the appointment in Japan.
- Homecoming -
Vice-captain of the Bleus sacrificed on the altar of speed and mobility, Bastareaud (1.83 m for about 120 kg) the following day announced the end of his international career, punctuated by some ups and, above all, from a lot of stockings.
"The road was not always easy, but wearing this shirt, representing my country, my family was my greatest pride!" Bastareaud wrote on Instagram and Twitter social networks.
However, he had to find a base for a few months to stay competitive.
Continue to Toulon? Complicated, having turned in his head the page and made his late-season late in the Var public, he could however find again next year, after his American experience - he is under contract until 2021.
In the capital of Gaul, Bastareaud will not be distressed: besides Mignoni, he will find several former RCT teammates, including winger Josua Tuisova and left-wing Xavier Chiocci, just recruited. All three will wear from August another red and black jersey.
© 2019 AFP