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Pro D2 club Oyonnax have announced the signature of Lucas Mensa from next season. It comes with the club in control of the 2022-2023 Pro D2 table; Oyonnax have a 15 point lead after 19 rounds of the season. Mont de Marsan are second place with Mensa a regular for the team.
The 26-year-old Mensa has played in France since 2020. He made the move from Argentina to the Pro D2, joining Valence Romans from SLAR side Los Ceibos. After two seasons he made the move to rivals Mont de Marsan. With Mensa, Mont de Marsan team reached the Pro D2 final but missed out on promotion to the Top 14.
Mont de Marsan’s strong showing last season is now being replicated by Oyonnax. The Ain team are out to go one better than Mont de Marsan by earning promotion to the Top 14. This would see Mensa playing in France’s elite next season.
Fellow Argentine inside center, Jerónimo de la Fuente is signing a new deal with his club. Perpignan want to hold-on to de la Fuente moving forward. He arrived at the club following the end of Argentina in Super Rugby. Perpignan and Oyonnax may yet be involved in determining who plays in the Top 14 and who plays in the Pro D2 next season.
Mensa has played more than 50 matches in the Pro D2. He has done so for a return of sixteen tries. The product of Buenos Aires club Pucará is looking for opportunities to add to his three test caps for Argentina. Mensa debuted against South Africa in the 2019 Rugby Championship. He went to Japan for the World Cup where he played against England as a replacement. His most recent cap was against New Zealand in 2020.
Mensa will not be the first Puma to wear the colors of Oyonnax. Former Puma Lucas González Amorosino, who is joining the American Raptors for Super Rugby Americas 2023, played for the club. Former Pumas scrum-half Agustín Figuerola was an Oyoman as was Castres fly half and Puma Benjamín Urdapilleta.
