News24
09 Nov 2019, 01:12 GMT+10
Lyon - Former France international Mathieu Bastareaud said on Friday he not is joining New York's Rugby United just to go on 'holiday'.
Bastareaud, 31, who retired from Test rugby after being left out of les Bleus' World Cup squad, is heading to the US after his final game with Lyon this weekend.
He joined the French club on a temporary deal as cover during the tournament from Toulon after making his senior debut as a 19-year-old with Stade Francais.
"I'm not going to New York for a holiday. I'm a competitor. I'm going there to be at the top of my game and to win something," he said.
"I want to have a new experience in an unknown country. I've only been there once and that was to sign my contract.
"I've played in the Top 14 for 12 years. I started quite young. It's a lot of pressure, a lot energy," he added.
The 54-time international, who will feature for the Barbarians against Fiji on November 17 before crossing the Atlantic, said playing in Major League Rugby will be a drop in standard.
"There's a lot of ambition to develop rugby in the US, and why not host a World Cup? I'm going there with a lot curiosity," he said.
"I'm not expecting the same quality as the Top 14 or the European Cup. They like to play a lot, like in Super Rugby, but at a lower quality."
The powerful ball-carrier has changed position during his time at Lyon having played six matches at No. 8 after a career as a centre.
"The fact of discovering a new position has changed my job in the space of four months. Playing with the forwards is totally different," he said.
"In the backs, we're used to shouting at the forwards when they forget things. I understand better now. I'm happy with what I've done in the position."
New Zealand's two-time World Cup winner Ma'a Nonu will also play in the 12-team MLR after having signed a deal with the San Diego Legion, with the new season starting in early February.
Get a daily dose of Paris Guardian news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Paris Guardian.
More InformationMOSCOW, Russia: This week, Russia became the first country to officially recognize the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan since...
CAIRO, Egypt: This week, both Hamas and Israel shared their views ahead of expected peace talks about a new U.S.-backed ceasefire plan....
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration has made public a visa decision that would usually be kept private. It did this to send...
MADRID, Spain: Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, have died in a car accident in Spain. Spanish...
LONDON, U.K.: An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed early summer temperatures to historic highs, triggering deadly...
President Donald Trump's plans to build a space-based Golden Dome missile defense shield have drawn immediate criticism from China,...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: With just weeks to spare before a potential government default, U.S. lawmakers passed a sweeping tax and spending...
PARIS, France: Fast-fashion giant Shein has been fined 40 million euros by France's antitrust authority over deceptive discount practices...
PALO ALTO/TEL AVIV: The battle for top AI talent has claimed another high-profile casualty—this time at Safe Superintelligence (SSI),...
FRANKLIN, Tennessee: Hundreds of thousands of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles are being recalled across the United States due to a potential...
REDMOND, Washington: Microsoft is the latest tech giant to announce significant job cuts, as the financial strain of building next-generation...
LONDON UK - U.S. stock markets were closed on Friday for Independence Day. Global Forex Markets Wrap Up Friday with Greeback Comeback...