People can’t get over how big Mathieu Bastareaud has got on Major League Rugby debut
Rugby fans have been commenting on the size of French Rugby star Mathieu Bastareaud after images appeared on social media of the French star in action.
Mathieu Bastareaud played in his first game for Rugby United who is based in New York!
Many fans were commenting on how the centre seemed to have put on a few pounds since he joined his new club from Toulon in October.
The Frenchman joined as a big signing into the MLR this year and many fans were shocked to see the pounds that he had put on in this game.
Here is the translation for this tweet showing the larger than life man…
“I wouldn’t want to overburden him because I really admire him, but he is just not there…”
https://twitter.com/greub1/status/1226624668767019008
Bastareaud seemed laboured and lacking pace in this match as he struggled to keep up with the pace in the MLR, a league that he should rightly expect to dominate with his pedigree in the sport.
https://twitter.com/greub1/status/1226621520505720832
https://twitter.com/greub1/status/1226619774018428928
RugbyPass reported that it might be worthwhile for Mathieu to become a back-row player in the future.
There has been talk that he may move to the back row in the future as his massive size means he could be dangerous at carrying for any side.
The 54-cap France international had flirted with the idea of moving from the centres to the back-row, but many may have dismissed it as fanciful thinking.
While some may say that this decision borders on lunacy, this is the time to do it. Furthermore, if there is one back in world rugby that may be better suited in the pack, it is the 20 stone Bastareaud.
This may be a stroke of genius that pays off for Rugby United, only if it is for the short period of time that Bastareaud is with the club. With the Top 14 season kicking off in only three weeks, former centre does not have long to learn the ropes, however.
