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Tomás Lavanini is move from Clermont to Lyon. As reported by Le Progress in February, the Pumas second-rower will move to Lyon on a two-year contract. Lavanini will join Lyon next season. The deal will see him at the club until June 2026.
The move to Lyon comes after Bayonne had made a move to sign the Argentine second-rower on a three-year deal starting next season. The possible move was reported by Sud Ouest. It was not completed. Instead, the Argentine will move from Clermont to Lyon.
It means Lavanini remains in France and in the Top 14. In addition to Clermont who he joined in mid-2021, he played for Racing 92 in 2014-2015 before returning to Argentina for Los Jaguares’ inaugural Super Rugby season in 2016. He played Super Rugby in 2016-2019 before playing in England for the Leicester Tigers from 2019-2021.
Lavanini debuted for Argentina in 2013 at the age of 20. He did so against Uruguay in Montevideo in 2013. His third cap came off the bench against South Africa where he made his Rugby Championship debut in Mendoza. He cemented himself in the team and now has 86 test caps.
His most recent cap was at the World Cup. It was against New Zealand in Paris where he played in a second Rugby World Cup Semi Final. Lavanini started in the Semi Final defeat but missed the Bronze Final due to injury.
Lavanini is two caps behind new Head Coach Felipe Contepomi and Pampas Head Coach Juan Manuel Leguizamón. Moreover, Lavanini has time on his side to reach the mark of 100 caps. Presently only Nicolás Sánchez and Agustín Creevy have reached 100 caps for Los Pumas. Pablo Matera, and Julián Montoya may reach the mark over the coming year with Matías Alemanno and Tomás Lavanini possibilities to do so in 2025.
