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Biarritz will play in the 2021-2022 Top 14. The Basque club won promotion by defeating Bayonne earlier today. The play-off was tryless yet it was simply amazing. The scores were tied 3-3 after 80 minutes and 6-6 at the end of extra time. That meant a penalty shoot-out determined whose destination was the Top 14 and whose was the Pro D2.
The decisive strike came from Steffon Armitage. The former England test player from Trinidad & Tobago landed the kick that gave Biarritz victory. It followed a miss from Bayonne winger Aymeric Luc; as such, Bayonne were beaten and relegated from the Top 14 to the Pro D2.
A few weeks ago Bayonne’s destination seemed secure; the Basque’s had defeated Toulouse. Pau appeared to be facing the prospect of playing in the promotion – relegation play-off. In the end it was a late escape; Pau defeated Montpellier and Bayonne lost their final regular season match against Stade Français.
The 2021-2022 season will see Biarritz replacing Bayonne and Perpignan replacing Agen in the Top 14. It has an impact on Americas players. Armitage was joined by Canadian Evan Olmstead in the win today over Bayonne. The losing team had former Puma Mariano Galarza in their line-up.
Biarritz have recruited Pumas scrum-half Tomás Cubelli for the new season. He will join from the Western Force. Perpignan have three Pumas on their roster for next season. Fly half Patricio Fernández and center Jerónimo de la Fuente helped the club to the Pro D2 title this season while Bautista Delguy is joining from Bordeaux.
