Olympic gold medalist and World Cup champion Iosefo Masi is reportedly in discussions with the French Top 14 club Lyon, according to reports from French media. Lyon is considering signing Masi as a replacement for Semi Radradra.
Lyon’s management views Masi as the perfect candidate to enhance their center pairing. His strong handling skills and physical presence are seen as crucial for the team, which faced significant challenges during the relegation battle of the 2023/2024 season.
It is yet to be determined if Masi’s potential move to Lyon is influenced by Radradra’s status with the club. Radradra, who joined in the summer of 2023 and made his debut after the World Cup with 10 appearances in his first season, will become a free agent in July 2025 unless he secures a contract extension.
At 26, Masi began his career with the Fiji 7s team, contributing to their gold medal victory at the 2021 Olympic Games under coach Gareth Baber. He also helped the Fiji 7s team win the Melrose Cup before transitioning to 15s rugby, where he signed with the Fijian Drua.
The Taveuni native had a successful stint with the Drua, scoring 16 tries and starting 29 matches, which earned him a call-up to the Flying Fijians. Most recently, he secured a silver medal with the Fiji 7s team at the Paris Olympics.