Top 14 outfit Bayonne have been fined after being found in breach of regulations relating to the renewal of France international Tevita Tatafu’s contract.
Tatafu has earned two Test caps for France so far, starting at tighthead prop during the 2024 Autumn Internationals against Japan and New Zealand.
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The case stems from events surrounding his September 2024 agreement to join Union Bordeaux-Bègles on a four-year pre-contract.
At the time, Tatafu exercised a release clause reportedly worth €500,000 to secure a move to UBB and reunite with Yannick Bru, who played a key role in bringing him to Bayonne in 2019.
However, in a major twist in January 2025, Bayonne revealed that the prop had instead signed a contract extension through to 2030, a development that heightened tensions between the two Top 14 rivals.
According to the official ruling from the LNR, the Basque side were found guilty of a “Failure to submit for approval a contractual document that did not contravene the provisions of the agreements and regulations.”
The League specifically alleged that Bayonne failed to submit for approval a contractual document concerning the France international.
As a result, the Legal Commission issued Bayonne with a €30,000 fine, half of which (€15,000) was suspended.
Club president Philippe Tayeb was handed a warning, while Tatafu received a €500 fine, which was suspended in full.
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