Former France international Mathieu Bastareaud has re-joined French Top 14 high-flyers Lyon after a short stint at New York.
The centre, who also played at number while in America, has returned to France after the Major League Rugby season was cancelled due to COVID-19.
31-year-old Bastreaud has signed a new two-year contract with Lyon, who currently sit second in the French top-flight, and says no regrets about his spell in the USA.
"I wanted to discover something new abroad," Bastareaud told Lyon's official website. "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."
Capped 54 times by Les Bleus, the three-time Champions Cup winner with Toulon lined out for Lyon as a "medical joker" during last year's Rugby World Cup.
"The four months spent in Lyon were really great and I enjoyed the city," he added. "The club offered me a great adventure and why not take up this challenge."
"LOU rugby is happy to announce that Mathieu Bastareaud has signed a two-year contract starting next season," Lyon said in a statement.
✍🏾🔴⚫️@BastaOfficiel de retour !
•
Mathieu Bastareaud s’est engagé pour deux ans à compter de cet été !
•#TEAMLOU pic.twitter.com/2bIoAs4q43— LOU Rugby (@LeLOURugby) April 18, 2020
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