Carl Fearns is staying in France after agreeing Pro D2 deal with ex-England scrum-half
Carl Fearns is stepping back into Pro D2, the level of rugby he was introduced to when he first joined Lyon in 2015 from Bath. With his five-year stint over at the now current Top 14 club, the soon-to-be 31-year-old back row has opted to hook up with ex-England scrum-half Richard Hill at Rouen.
The Normandy-based club, guided up the ranks from the wilds of the Federale by Hill, were in the relegation zone when the French season was halted in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the cancellation of the 2019/20 season has given them a reprieve and they will again be in the French second-tier in 2020/21.
Fearns had feared he might not be able to find a club due to the current recruitment crisis caused by the pandemic, but his future is now secured for the next two seasons after he decided to stay in France - albeit at a lower level.
A tweet by the club said: ‘Carl Fearns, back row at Lyon, will settle down for two seasons at Rouen. Carl will bring all his determination and experience to help the club continue to grow. Thumbs up. Welcome him to Normandy!”
Fearns, who played 52 Top 14 games and 19 in the second tier, first made his name at Sale, spending three years in Manchester before switching to Bath. He had used social media earlier this month to confirm his time at Lyon was over.
“What a strange way to end what has been an amazing five seasons at this incredible club," he wrote. "I wish we got the opportunity to try and go all the way. I’ll always be proud of what we’ve managed to achieve during my time here.
“I came to Lyon at a time when I wasn’t particularly enjoying my rugby and was made to feel welcome and a big part of it from the beginning. Huge thank you to the fans for your constant support. To the lads, continue the course, I’m sure the title’s en route. Alas, all good things come to an end.”
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Look, we know contradicting opinions and wacky comments bring readers and clicks, so well done to RP for allowing always-wrong-Ben to say something here. However RP needs to put a disclaimer next to his comments for their own credibility. NZ was and is incapable of acknowledging their opp beating them. They refused so with Ire and with Arg in 2022 and also the Boks in 2023 x 2. Nothing Ben says here holds water, NZ attacked backwards, except when Kolisi and Kolbe was off And cyncialy took out Bongi, we played without lineouts for 75mins. Kolisi and Kurt-Lee almost scored twice. Thats 3 vs 2 for Boks, but the Boks opportunities was legal. Boks should have been 16-3 up by half time. Tacticaly the Boks attacked better defended better scrummed better (without a hooker) kicked better and crossed the whitewash more times. Boks beat Fr Eng Nz to win in 23, comeon give some credit at least. Even Federer Verstappen NY Mets, Mamoa, was able to see a great human sport achievement by the Boks and their DNA Boks #RWC27 !🏉
Go to commentsForget the 85kg bit, that can become something else. However I do like the one off test on ANZAC day idea. SR plays Fri/ Sat, test players travel Sunday and the squads have the full week together before playing Saturday. Rest of SR has a week off. Either involve women's teams in same location or in the other country and rotate annually. Herbert is right in that change is needed.
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