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Brazil are interested in a Pro D2 player. ARN has learned that Vannes’ Theó Bastardie has been identified as a potential future player for Os Tupis. Bastardie qualifies for Brazil via player eligibility laws; he has Brazilian family ancestry.
Bastardie is 24-years-old. He was born in Stains in the Seine-Saint-Denis department in the northern suburbs of Paris. He has made 10 appearances thus far in the Pro D2 season for Vannes and made 12 last season.
He is the teammate of Uruguayan captain Andrés Vilaseca as well as former Puma Francisco Gorrissen and Argentina XV flanker Bautista Pedemonte. The club will become home to Chilean Iñaki Ayarza next season.
Vannes are enjoying an excellent season in the Pro D2. The Brittany club leads the Pro D2 standings with 66 competition points after 21 rounds. Béziers, who Vannes defeated last week, are second on 63 points. In other words, Vannes’ dream of earning promotion to the Top 14 is very real.
Bastardie played both left wing and right wing for Vannes. The Brazilian-eligible player is 1.8 meters (5 ft 11) and weighs 91 kg (200 lbs).
Brazil will play home test matches in July against visiting teams from Asia and / or Europe. Os Tupis will also feature in Rugby World Cup Qualifiers later on in the year. With expansion from 20 to 24 teams, Brazil has never had a better chance of qualifying for a Rugby World Cup. Dates and venues for the July Internationals and Rugby World Cup Qualifiers are expected to be announced in March.
