Bastareaud confirms New York switch

France and Toulon centre Mathieu Bastareaud has published a video confirming that he will play in the new Major League Rugby following the World Cup in Japan.

The midfielder was in negotiations with the Durban-based Sharks about switch but the 30-year-old has instead finalised a move away from the Top 14 following a meeting between Mourad Boudjellal and Pierre Arnald, the general manager of Rugby United New York.

New York will welcome the French International from December 1, 2019, until the end of June 2020 before he then returns to Toulon.

Club coach Patrice Collazo and owner Boudjellal were not opposed to their player’s desire to temporarily leave with the veteran including the arragement in his last contract extension with Toulon. Bastareaud will take a signficant pay when joining the Major League Rugby side.

Toujours un plaisir d’échanger avec toi mon bro @vincentclerc 🤙🏾
Full story 👉🏾 https://t.co/1xLvwSswPX pic.twitter.com/IVUh9X2gzt

— Mathieu Bastareaud (@BastaOfficiel) April 28, 2019

“I’m not going to be secretive, these are my last matches in Toulon, I try to live it thoroughly,” he said. “I chose to join the New York team. It’s a new adventure for me. It’s important for me to finish here. I wanted to change. It was the best compromise for me at family level, life experience and to play rugby.”