Poitrenaud to PRO in 2017?

Just a few days removed from French star Mathieu Bastareaud hinting at the possibility of taking a sabbatical to play in PRO Rugby, another Frenchman has come forward stating his intentions to come to the USA. Clement Poitrenaud has publicly stated that is planning to leave Toulouse when his contract expires in June. The former international stated that he plans to continue his career in the USA, presumably playing on a PRO franchise in 2017. He has been sidelined with an ankle injury throughout most of 2016, but is expected to return to full health by Summer.

“I quit Rugby Toulouse, but I said that it’s not a physical problem,” said Poitrenaud in an interview translated from RUGBYRAMA. “I’m thinking of doing a freelance in the US in 2017, because I’m capable and it is a challenge that interests me.”

Poitrenaud is a versatile back line player having played both fullback and center throughout his storied career. Poitrenaud has played his entire professional career for Toulouse, making 337 Top 14 appearances since his debut in 2000 and scoring 338 points. He was capped for the first of 47 times by France in 2001 and played in the 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups.

With the massive interest drawn by PRO Rugby during the opening weeks of the season, a number of similar rumors have begun to stir. With the timing of the PRO Rugby season and the draw of being part of the professional rugby revolution in the USA, there is little surprise that overseas players are interested. The surprise is the quality of the players interested. Many pundits expected there to be a lot of interest from young foreign players looking to build a resume before heading back overseas. The number of former internationals that have been drawn to PRO in the first season is surprising, but it appears to be a trend that is going to continue.