France Bleu Pays Basque reported on Friday evening, after the defeat in Oyonnax, that Anoa Laurent had ruptured the cruciate ligaments in his knee. The diagnosis was confirmed by Biarritz manager Boris Bouhraoua. The 19-year-old scrum-half was injured in training on the Wednesday, three days before an away game where he was due to be on the bench.

He had not played in Pro D2 for a year

Anoa Laurent had not played a Pro D2 match since 12 September 2025, 358 days ago. That evening, in Aix, he came off the bench in Round 3. He injured his shoulder and did not play at that level again.

He returned to action with the Espoirs on 21 March 2026, six months later. Seven team sheets at that level until May, including two starts, then a full summer pre-season and a place on the bench taking shape for Oyonnax.

His professional career amounts to eight Pro D2 team sheets, including two starts, both in spring 2025: in Aurillac on 28 March, then in Nice on 11 April. He was eighteen, and he played the full eighty minutes both times.

Biarritz down to two number 9s

Asked by the radio station about a possible medical joker, Bouhraoua would not commit. “We’ll see, that’s not tonight’s topic. We’re thinking about all of that. But right now, the priority was to come and take on Oyo.”

The question will soon need answering, though. In this season’s Biarritz squad, only two players have started a match wearing 9 since 2023. Kerman Aurrekoetxea, 26, has done so thirty-eight times, most recently on Friday in Oyonnax. Yann Lesgourgues, 35, thirty-seven times, most recently on 27 August against Nice. Anoa Laurent was the third.

That is thin for a twenty-six-round season. Lesgourgues came off the bench on Friday wearing 20, after starting in Round 1.

Two more worries in Oyonnax

Bouhraoua reported two further setbacks. Replacement hooker Adrien Sonzogni broke his nose in the final passage of play. Back row Ekain Imaz Agirre “picked up a bit of a knock, but nothing serious”, according to the manager.