Clutch kicks, stranded players and drinking in their kit: Bayonne celebrate promotion from the ProD2
There were scenes of jubilation in the South West of France after Bayonne’s promotion to the Top 14. The Basque club are back in the top flight after a last-minute kicked from Argentina international Martin Bustos Moyano saw Bayonne defeat Brive in the the ProD2 final.
Bayonne’s Martín Bustos Moyano with a rare kick to win the league (and promotion to the Top 14). pic.twitter.com/AEcmVvNvnc
— Ben Coles (@bencoles_) May 27, 2019
Without scoring a try, Bayonne triumphed through seven penalties – from fly-half Manuel Ordas and Bustos Moyano – while Brive did score a try through Fijian Savanaia Galala. However, the match-closing heroics from the tee mean that Bayonne went up.
French sports paper Midi Olympique called the ex-Puma ‘King Bustos’ in the aftermath. The full-back has seen his game time reduced this season, throwing his future into doubt, but he stepped up and delivered the goods when it mattered most at the weekend.
‘King Bustos’ as the #Pumas full-back is praised for his last-minute effort
Has seen his gametime reduced this season as a clause in his contract says he would automatically get a renewal if he played 15 games this campaign
His 15th was yesterday’s #FinaleProD2 pic.twitter.com/BLQZTFl5KI
— Illtud W. Dafydd (@IlltudDafydd) May 27, 2019
Brive will now host Grenoble, who finished 13th in the Top 14, next Sunday in a last-chance, cross-division play-off. The winner will play in the Top 14 next season.
After the spectacle there were scenes of jubilation from the fans of the club, as their beloved team lifted the PrD2 title.
However, on the journey back from Pau, not everyone made it. As you will see from the Instagram story by former Scotland No 8 Johnnie Beattie, him, Torsten Van Jaarsveld and Tristan Tedder were all left behind in Pau by the bus and had to get a taxi back to Bayonne.
Johnnie Beattie, Torsten Van Jaarsveld et Tristan Tedder ont été oublié par le bus de l’@avironrugbypro après le match… ils sont rentrés à Bayonne en taxi ?? pic.twitter.com/kRrcJYRpfa
— Arnaud Becquet (@ArnaudBecquet) May 27, 2019
Just another story to tell about the day you become the ProD2 champions, hey…
Oh and of course it seems no celebration would be complete now without a title-winning player heading out after a match in team kit, so here is Bayonne wing Latu Latunipulu having a sup in the team colours.
Et Latu Latunipulu s’est lancé dans un remake d’Alex Goode en gardant sa tenue et ses crampons en après match ?? pic.twitter.com/W0BMF7pvPz
— Arnaud Becquet (@ArnaudBecquet) May 27, 2019
Hey, it’s not every day you reclaim your place at the top table of French rugby.
But can Brive join the Basque side there?