Christmas has come early in Bayonne. On Tuesday morning, the Basque club announced the extension of their Argentine wing Mateo Carreras (25) until 2029. News that will delight Aviron supporters, who had been demanding it in jest on social media.

Almost alone against the world facing UBB on Saturday evening, the Puma is a formidable player, powerful and blessed with bewildering footwork. Already the scorer of two tries in two matches this season (he had been playing the Rugby Championship with Argentina), Carreras joined Bayonne last year as a medical joker.

Capped 32 times by the Pumas, he spent three years at Newcastle before setting down his bags on the Basque coast.