Baptiste Germain has his answer. Badly injured against Lyon on Saturday with Bayonne following a tackle, the scrum-half has a severe sprain to his left ankle. He is expected to be out for between 8 and 10 weeks.

The former UBB, Toulouse and Biarritz player had feared a fracture after his spectacular injury. In the end, that is not the case. Bayonne, seriously hampered by injuries, will not, however, be able to call on a medical joker to replace him, since his absence is less than three months.

Not extended

Sud-Ouest report that the Basque club could activate that option for Maxime Machenaud, who ruptured a cruciate ligament in a knee last October.

It is also a hammer blow for Baptiste Germain, who has made a good start to the season (4 tries in 8 matches) but is not expected to be handed an extension.