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Mathieu Bastareaud’s eventful summer continues. After a surprise move to Rugby United New York for the 2020 Major League Rugby season, the former France captain was then dropped from the World Cup squad and subsequently announced his retirement from international rugby. Toulon released him entirely from his contract and Bastareaud has now signed a short-term deal with Lyon as a ‘World Cup joker’ that will see him staying in the Top 14 until mid-November.
Adding intrigue to the announcement is the suggestion that a change in position may be in store. Lyon coach Pierre Mignoni has confirmed that discussions have taken place with Bastareaud about the possibility of the giant center making a switch to the back row, with his ball-carrying power particularly useful as a No8.
Now 30 years old, Bastareaud has spent his entire career in the midfield and a switch at his age would be unusual, though not unprecedented. Former Spain captain Jaime Nava won 46 caps primarily as a center before making an abrupt change to the back row, where he would spent the last four years of his test career. More recently San Diego switched Fiji Sevens star Jasa Veremalua from the outside backs to the forwards during the 2019 MLR season.
