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Chilean prop Ramón Ayarza has been signed by French Pro D2 club Bayonne on a shorm term contract until the end of the season. Bayonne announced the immediate arrival of Ayarza as a medical joker to replace the injured Tongan loosehead Ofa Fainga’anuku.
Aged 22, Ayarza has his career ahead of him yet he joins Bayonne as a player to have already accomplished so much. He has prior experience playing in France’s third division, the Fédérale 1 for ROC La Voulte-Valence and has quickly become one of his country’s leading players.
In the recent Americas Rugby Championship Ayarza was among the leading props in the competition. Americas Rugby News named the Cóndores loosehead in the 2016 ARC Dream Team. Ayarza began training with Bayonne on Monday morning.
The team is preparing to face Narbonne in round 27 on Friday. Missing from training was former Pumas fullback Martín Bustos Moyano who is injured. Ayarza’s arrival, though, gives Bayonne four South Americans. Argentine back-rower Benjamín Macome and Ayarza’s compatriot Pablo Huete are Aviron Bayonnais players.
At 122kg (270lbs) and standing at 1.86m (6’1″) tall, Ayarza has the physical requirements to do well in the Pro D2. With four rounds of regular season play remaining Bayonne is in second place, behind leaders Lyon who have already secured promotion to there Top 14.
Second through fifth will contest the Semi Finals and Final with the winner also earning promotion. Bayonne is well-placed with ten more points than the sixth placed Mont-de-Marsan. Aurillac, Perpignan and Béziers round out the top five at present.
