Not safe from relegation yet, but already busy on the market. USAP have just hit very hard and sent out a strong signal to their rivals with an eye on next season, with an unexpected arrival: that of All Black Sevu Reece (28). The news was announced on Wednesday on the Catalan club’s social media, by way of a superb unveiling video.

The Fiji-born player has been with the Crusaders since 2019 and, above all, has 37 caps for New Zealand. He has scored 20 tries for them thanks to his pace and devastating footwork. He is also the record try scorer in Super Rugby.

Speaking to the press on 5 December, Catalan president François Rivière had announced the signing of a player “of the calibre of Jamie Ritchie”. That player was Reece. The Nadi (Fiji) native has committed for three seasons.

L’Equipe add, however, that Sevu Reece will come to Perpignan even if the club were to go down to Pro D2.

Our colleagues at France 3 note that relegation to Pro D2 could nevertheless call his arrival into question.