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U20

Bastareaud linked with shock move to Super Rugby

By Online Editors

22 Jan 2019

Mathieu Bastareaud has it all to do at Lyon to convince he can realistically play at No8 (Photo by Getty Images)

France centre Mathieu Bastareaud could ply his trade in South Africa for the Sharks come 2020.

According to the French media outlet Rugbyrama the Toulon captain’s contract has a clause that allows him a short stint outside Europe.

As reported the France centre met with Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal to discuss a possible move to Super Rugby.

Despite keen interest shown by Japananes teams, Bastareaud is determined to fulfil his ambitions of playing for Super Rugby franchise the Sharks, especially after spending a couple of weeks in Durban in 2017 and his good relations with the former Biarritz player and current Sharks COO, Edouard Coetzee.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs84swVAWQy/

It has also been reported that Bastareaud’s exit will be held after the upcoming Six Nations and he will sign a pre-contract with Toulon for 2021.

Having a Frenchman at the Sharks would not be an unfamiliar scene. The Sharks have already hosted, Thierry Lacroix, Olivier Roumat (1996), Frédéric Michalak (2008 and 2012), and Clément Poitrenaud (2017) in the past.

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Comments on RugbyPass

BA 19 minutes ago

Are other All Blacks better suited to number six than Tupou Vaa'i?

That big Naki Chiefs lock Fiti Sa is a big boy and Josh Tengbland in the u20s another ,125 kg and 117 kg respectively and both well over 2 meters so for kiwi locks that’s pretty big both young as

85 Go to comments

Upnorth-taniwha 29 minutes ago

New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

So with all that's been said, France sending a b team, top 14 so strong, we support ab’s, they support top 14 and WC and six nations. It is what it is, but do you think that the results of this tour have matched the outcry? Like the first test against a so called b side? Yes we won, just. The second test was better, but against a lesser team apparently. And the third test we will experiment, to a degree. But we are still not thrashing them. One would expect if the teams they are sending are so bad, then why aren't we holding them scoreless and why aren't we putting 50-60 points on them every week? We put all our emphasis on international rugby, yet the show isn't what one would think it would be considering all the facts. I don't know, but I was really expecting the ABS to come out in the first test and show France how pissed off they were that they had sent a mediocre test team. Send them home thrashed and with their Tails between there legs, but I don't know. I think they would go home confident that even if they put the b side in, they can compete against a power house AB team. Not good for us, more so for them. As we all know, the mental side of international rugby is huge. Players confidence can set there path for their careers. So I think it was a perfect chance to absolutely dent the confidence of these up and comers, so when they faced us again in the future, they wouldnt be so keen! And if the ABs had really smashed this team and any other team that done the same, then it would be a message to all international sides. That if you do so, you do so at your own risk and at the expense of the growth of your players going forwards. I get what everyone is saying in regards to all the other stuff. Yes we have a lot to work on. But firstly we need to win, and win big. Otherwise these complaints of b sides, look rather silly. Yes we are 2 nil up. The second test against a much weeker side was better-ish. But C'mon, if they want to send b sides, we should treat them like that, and really be smashing them. Confidence in any player, can be changed for the entirety of their careers. Maybe if we did this, they would realise the effects and send stronger teams. But I don't think that so far this series, any player would feel like they wouldn't want another go at the ABs and can face up to them. Just a thought

80 Go to comments

Carlos 48 minutes ago

How the Lions will heap pressure upon Australia's million-dollar man

I am utterly confused about RA investments decisions. A lot of money. Real money. One player. Not “Messi”.

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IkeaBoy 1 hour ago

The British & Irish Lions are historic in name, but losers by nature

How frightfully accurate.

I forgot you don't have a sense of humour and the fear just gripped me. Had to amend it.

At least it does prove you're English, spud.

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IkeaBoy 1 hour ago

The British & Irish Lions are historic in name, but losers by nature

Well that would be weird…

35 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 1 hour ago

The British & Irish Lions are historic in name, but losers by nature

I guess that rules you out, box kick Ed.

35 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 1 hour ago

The British & Irish Lions are historic in name, but losers by nature

Yep, two of whom aren't fully fit.

Another two hybrids one of whom is at home with his tour ended. The other hybrid is on the bench.

He has spirit and a side step but defensively, he couldn't catch the clap.

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Tom 1 hour ago

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Tk 1 hour ago

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The blame lies with world rugby and the international eligibility rules- which of course are heavily influenced by the home nations. If eligible for a national team the player cannot then be ineligible for the Lions.

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Peter Close 1 hour ago

Willie John McBride doubles down on Lions critique, suggests renaming

Moaning old git! I'm only 6 years younger but played for 46 years in 6 decades 1957-2002 and have supported Lions since Tony o' Reilly was the youngest Lion in 1955 giving the film audience two fingers with a pair of Springbok horns. So I feel just as entitled to express my view and that is that adopted players are now part of Lions culture. So calm down old boy!

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J Marc 1 hour ago

New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

Do you know how many fans watch rugby in the stands in China ? Rugby union is the 10th sport in France….

Great Britain have about the same population than France, where are fans if they are not in the stands ? GB have far more football fans than France. It has nothing to do with country size…

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LW 1 hour ago

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A few french players with some caps, does this make the C team into a B team? They should thrash the AllBlacks B team then, we know the top 14 is all powerful. 30pts to the french, minimum

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YeowNotEven 1 hour ago

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Billy just needs time, he was better in the 2nd than the first. I’d rather they kept the combo with him a jordie or try Jim starting at 12.

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J Marc 1 hour ago

New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

Foreign top14 players play for their country during international périods. Scottish players did'nt played six nations ? Blair Kinghorn played with Scotland during Top14. And he was not the only one.

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PS 2 hours ago

New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

No they don't, it's about club control over players as they bring the money in not the French Rugby union. The clubs use have contracts that didn't allow non French players to play for their countries during the the Top 14 until it was stamped out by the IRB. I'm pretty confident if you asked the Top French Test players they would want to play on these tours some have already said it rugby articles. The clubs have the control and they don't care about Test Rugby just the dollar

80 Go to comments

DarstedlyDan 2 hours ago

New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

Your “swap the autumn tours” idea is not bad. But I think there are at least a couple of reasons why it wouldn’t be accepted:

1. The NH unions would miss out on big gate takings every other year. They would block it.

2. With the Nations Cup it will soon be moot (although I am yet to be convinced that France will send full strength teams to the SH leg in July - but this will annoy WR more directly, so perhaps…)

80 Go to comments

TJ 2 hours ago

New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

From down South in Africa , I just need to remind the writer that France has a population 13 times bigger than NZ. Disparity in crowds are no surprise.

80 Go to comments

DarstedlyDan 2 hours ago

New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

Who’s said “change the top 14 to be just like us”?

The June tests were moved to July to accomodate the top 14 so this sort of thing wouldn’t happen. That was an action by the SH unions to accomodate the French and their season. So what happened? “Thanks for that, can we have some more?”

80 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

The British & Irish Lions are historic in name, but losers by nature

Everyone’s got a soft spot for the underdog, until they’re staring out their team!

Ps I presume the ‘JOKE’ part was the late addition edit…😉😂

PPS just checked…and IT WAS!!!!!!!🤣🤣🤣

35 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

The British & Irish Lions are historic in name, but losers by nature

Don’t tell me, you were following JGP, Lowe, Mack, CJ and JK from the cradle…

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