Jonny Gray Departs Bordeaux for Immediate New Deal

Scotland lock Jonny Gray has left Bordeaux-Bègles to join Perpignan until the end of the season. The 32-year-old moved at his own request, according to Bordeaux, and will not play again for the club before his contract ends.

Transfer details and squad swap

Perpignan confirmed a player exchange connected to Gray’s arrival. The club announced fly-half Hugo Reus has been released from his short-term deal.

Reus is 22 and was originally due to join Bordeaux in the summer. He will now swap places with Gray and join Perpignan as a medical joker.

Injury cover at Perpignan

Reus will provide midfield cover for Joey Carbery and Nicolas Depoortère. Carbery suffered an ACL injury in February.

Depoortère underwent shoulder surgery after an injury against Scotland in the Guinness Six Nations. Perpignan had brought Reus in during December on a deal until season end.

Perpignan’s injury list and depth issues

The Catalan side are short of options across several positions. Second-row and back-row spots have been hit by injuries.

Jamie Ritchie, a long-term Scotland team-mate of Gray, is sidelined after fracturing his leg against England in the Six Nations. Perpignan now turn to Gray to bolster their pack.

Where this leaves Perpignan in the Top 14

Perpignan sit well outside the Top 12. They trail 12th-place Bayonne by 22 points.

There is a 12-point gap to bottom-place Montauban, who look likely to face automatic relegation. Perpignan still face the prospect of an access match against the Pro D2 runner-up.

Gray’s recent form and Bordeaux record

Gray earned 81 caps for Scotland and was named in the recent Six Nations squad. He did not play during that tournament.

He spent a season-and-a-half with Bordeaux. He collected a second Investec Champions Cup winners’ medal last season but did not feature in the final.

His final appearance for Bordeaux came on January 24. He started in a 28-33 home loss to Stade Français at Stade Chaban-Delmas.

Immediate challenges

Gray joins Perpignan in the heart of a relegation battle. He is expected to be involved straight away.

Perpignan face Toulon this weekend in the Top 14. Filmogaz.com will follow how the new signing affects the club’s survival hopes.

Note: Jonny Gray Departs Bordeaux for Immediate New Deal highlights the rapid nature of the move. Fans will watch closely as the season reaches its critical phase.