Cyril Baille to leave Toulouse for Bayonne in 2027

At Toulouse since 2009, the 56-cap prop has committed to Bayonne until 2029.

Stade Toulousain had not offered him a new deal, according to Sud Ouest and Midi Olympique. Bayonne moved with a two-year offer, which Baille accepted. On Friday, Aviron announced his arrival for the 2027-28 season in a joint statement with Toulouse.

Baille joined Toulouse’s junior ranks from Lannemezan in 2009 and the Pau native has spent his whole professional career with the club. He has 172 Top 14 matchday appearances since October 2012 and 57 in the Champions Cup. Long regarded as one of the best looseheads in the world, he has lost some influence over the past two seasons, hampered in particular by an ankle problem. His last France cap came during the 2025 Six Nations.

Three games this season

Baille has played in three of the five Top 14 rounds this season: starting against Bordeaux-Bègles (48-12) and at Vannes (29-23), and coming off the bench against Montpellier (40-18). He was not involved at Castres, where Toulouse fielded a very young side.

A changing dressing room

His departure follows those of Thomas Ramos, bound for Racing 92, and François Cros, who is due to join Lyon in summer 2027. Dorian Aldegheri, the other prop from the club’s home-grown generation, is also out of contract next June. At Bayonne, third in the Top 14, Baille will return to the Basque Country, about a hundred kilometres from his home town.