Lyon sign Mathieu Bastareaud on two-year deal

Lyon have confirmed the signing of former France international Mathieu Bastareaud on a two-year deal.

The 31-year-old already had a short stint with Lyon in 2019 and will now rejoin them from Rugby United New York which he joined in 2020. He played five games for New York in the Major League Rugby before the pandemic coronavirus cancelled the remainder of the season.

"I wanted to discover something new abroad," said Bastareaud.

"I will have good memories of this experience (in New York) even though I wanted to leave at the end of the season. Stopping was the right decision for everyone.

"The four months spent in Lyon were really great and I enjoyed the city.

"The club offered me a great adventure and why not take up this challenge."

Bastareaud, who also represented Stade Francais and Toulon in the past went on to play 54 times for France but announced retirement from international rugby after missing out on selection leading towards the World Cup last year.