Bastareaud linked with shock move to Super Rugby

France centre Mathieu Bastareaud could ply his trade in South Africa for the Sharks come 2020.

According to the French media outlet Rugbyrama the Toulon captain’s contract has a clause that allows him a short stint outside Europe.

As reported the France centre met with Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal to discuss a possible move to Super Rugby.

Despite keen interest shown by Japananes teams, Bastareaud is determined to fulfil his ambitions of playing for Super Rugby franchise the Sharks, especially after spending a couple of weeks in Durban in 2017 and his good relations with the former Biarritz player and current Sharks COO, Edouard Coetzee.

It has also been reported that Bastareaud’s exit will be held after the upcoming Six Nations and he will sign a pre-contract with Toulon for 2021.

Having a Frenchman at the Sharks would not be an unfamiliar scene. The Sharks have already hosted, Thierry Lacroix, Olivier Roumat (1996), Frédéric Michalak (2008 and 2012), and Clément Poitrenaud (2017) in the past.