Bastareaud linked with MLR switch

France centre Mathieu Bastareaud could be set for a shock loan spell in the Major League in America. The midfielder had been in negotiations since January about a possible move to the Sharks in Super Rugby.

However, Midi Olympique are now reporting that the 30-year-old could move the move to MLR after Mourad Boudjellal spoke with the GM of Rugby United New York, Pierre Arnald.

New York would be willing to welcome him from December 1, 2019, until the end of June 2020 before he would then return to Toulon. Club coach Patrice Collazo and owner Boudjellal are not opposed to their player’s desire to temporarily leave with the centre having included a clause in his contract the last time he re-signed with the side.

Boudjellal has only set a few conditions in order to facilitate Bastareaud’s loan move: there would be no move to England nor to a club that Toulon could potentially face in Europe.