French Top 14 entrants Lyon OU confirm the signing of Sisa Koyamaibole and Juan Martin Leguizamon
Stade Vuillermet based French Top 14 entrants Lyon Olympique Universitaire (Lyon OU) confirmed the signing of new players, including Sisa Koyamaibole and Juan Martin Leguizamon to strengthen their squad and mark their return as
a Top 14 outfit.
Lyon finished on the top of the 2010 – 11 Pro D2 season with 101 points coming from the 30 games in the season. They won 21 games and lost only seven games in the season. Lyon OU confirmed the signing of the new players in a statement
release to the media on Wednesday, June 1.
Other players also confirmed they signed agreements with Lyon OU including prop Arnold Tchougong from Cameroon, South African born lock Connie Basson, hooker Jean-Philippe Bonrepeaux from Brive, Colomiers’ prop Anthony Roux.
Back-row forward Juan Martin Leguizamon and lock Arnaud Marchois from their rivals Stade Francais, Sale Sharks’ back row player Sisa Koyamaibole, Brive playmaker Regis Lespinas and Tongan international back Alipathe Fathahefi from St Etienne are also on
the list of new players. Both Tchougong and Basson represented Bourgoin during the 2010/11 season. Bourgoin have been relegated from the Top 14 at the end of the 2010/11 season.
The most prominent of all are Fijian and Argentinean International Sisa Koyamaibole and Juan Martin Leguizamon.
The 30-year-old Sisa played for the Edgeley Park based Sale Sharks during the 2010 – 11 Premiership seasons. He joined Sale Sharks at the start of the 2008-09 seasons, made 36 appearances for them in two seasons, and scored 25
points for them.
Sisa is a versatile back row player and can play at both flanker and number eight positions. This is his second stint in France following the 11 games he played during the 2008 – 09 season for Toulon.
Sisa made his international debut against Tonga in 2001. He so far has made 46 international appearances for the national side and scored 15 points for them.
Santiago del Estero born Juan Manuel Leguizamon made his international debut against Japan during 2005. He has made 34 appearances for Pumas and scored 30 points. The 27-year-old Leguizamon join Lyon from rivals Stade Francais.
He joined Francais at the start of the 2008 – 09 seasons. Previously he has played for the London Irish in the English rugby Premiership.
In addition to this, club officials are in talks with the Racing Metro’s Italian international Andrea Masi. He is a utility back and has played at centre, fullback, winger and fly half positions in the past.
Masi made his international debut in 1999 against Spain. He has made 60 international appearances for Azzurri’s and has scored 65 points. Masi is included in the 43-man provisional squad announced by the Italy for their 2011 Rugby
World Cup campaign.
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