Olympic gold medalist and World Cup winner in rugby sevens, Iosefo Masi, is reportedly in negotiations with French Top 14 club Lyon. French media sources indicate that Lyon is seeking to sign Masi as a replacement for Semi Radradra.
Lyon’s management views Masi as an ideal candidate to strengthen their center pairing, given his impressive handling skills and physical play, which could significantly enhance a team that faced relegation challenges during the 2023/2024 season.
It is still uncertain whether Masi’s potential move to Lyon is contingent upon Radradra’s situation with the club. Radradra joined the team in the summer of 2023, making his debut after the World Cup and appearing in ten matches during his initial season. If a contract extension is not reached, he will be available as a free agent starting July 2025.
Masi, 26, began his career with the Fiji 7s team, contributing to their gold medal win at the 2021 Olympics under Coach Gareth Baber. He also celebrated victory with the Fiji 7s team in the Melrose Cup before transitioning to the 15s format and signing with Fijian Drua. The Taveuni native had a remarkable two seasons with Drua, scoring 16 tries and starting 29 games, which earned him a call-up to the Flying Fijians.
Most recently, Masi added a silver medal to his achievements with the Fiji 7s team at the Paris Olympics.