the essential
Arriving this summer in the Pink City, the Japanese international scrum-half will be one of the attractions of the No.9 market.
Where will Naoto Saito play next season? Arriving this summer at Ernest-Wallon from Tokyo Sungoliath, the native of Kanagawa (27 years old; 1.65 m; 75 kg) will quickly liven up the scrum half market.
Also read:
Stade Toulousain: who is Naoto Saito, the Japanese recruit of the “rouge et noir”?
Author of a convincing start to the season despite reduced playing time given the necessary adaptation period in the “red and black” club (5 match sheets, 1 start), the one which has 20 selections with the Brave Blossoms was quick to catch the eye of the other clubs in the Top 14.
Also read:
VIDEO. Montpellier-Stade Toulousain: test against the Blues, spectacular gestures at the World Cup… When Naoto Saito was already talking about him
And in particular Bordeaux-Bègles, which sees Yann Lesgourgues, Maxime Lucu’s understudy, arriving at the end of his lease in June. UBB, focused on attacking rugby, seems convinced that Saito’s profile and qualities fit perfectly with its game plan.
Extension with the Stadium, a real option
However, the club managed by Yannick Bru should be in competition with Aviron Bayonnais on this issue. Because if Baptiste Germain, whom the Japanese replaced in the Pink City, remains under contract until 2027, Maxime Machenaud and Guillaume Rouet see their contracts expire at the end of the current financial year.
It also remains to be seen what the position of Toulouse will be, two scrum halves of which are already locked in for the long term (2027): Antoine Dupont and Paul Graou. An extension with the reigning double French champion club is far from being ruled out.
