Bastareaud spotted at Lyon's training facility - reports

A fourth club has been linked to French cast-off Mathieu Bastareaud.

The centre was left out of France’s plans for the Rugby World Cup in Japan, and since then has been linked to another of European clubs.

Jacques Brunel left Bastareaud out of the 31-strong France squad for the finals, the centre even failing to be included in the standby list of the players also announced.

Bastareaud will take a massive pay cut to play for MLR side Rugby United New York in 2020, but his World Cup snubbing means he could be left without a club or any competitive rugby for the guts of six months.

Despite being technically under contract with Toulon until December 1st, both parties decided to split ways earlier this week.

While Munster were linked with the giant 126kg centre, Stade Francais and Montpellier looked like leading the race for a short-term contract.

It is reported that Montpellier have sent him a contract proposal as they want him as cover for Francois Steyn who is expected to be away at the World Cup with South Africa. Financial terms are said to be agreeable, even if the club isn’t Bastareaud’s first choice.

Stade Francais are believed to have returned with a proposal to Bastareaud on Wednesday and once they decide who he would potentially replace as a joker, the player will have all the information at his disposal and he will make a decision by the weekend.

However, a fourth club has now be linked with the former French international – according to reports eminating from France. Rugbyrama report that Bastareaud has now been spotted at Lyon.

Lyon coach Pierre Mignoni knows the player, the pair having trained together for four years, from 2011 to 2015. In addition, the ambitious Lyon are thought to be eager to offer “Basta” a long-term deal.