Chile’s Iñaki Ayarza signs with Top 14 club Vannes until 2028

Iñaki Ayarza has signed a long-term contract with Vannes. The 24-year-old has signed for the 2024-2028 season. The Chilean World Cup defender is moving from Soyaux Angoulême XV Charente to Vannes and swapped the Pro D2 to play in the Top 14. Vannes made it to the French elite with Puma Francisco Gorrissen as captain.

Ayarza was also approached by 2022 Top 14 champions Montpellier. However, this move did not materialize. Important for Vannes is that Ayarza is a JIFF Player.

Vannes has a strong connection to South America. Former Puma flanker Francisco Gorrissen is captain. Argentine XV backrower Juan Bautista Pedemonte is also at the club, while Uruguayan backrowers Nicolás Freitas and Andrés Vilaseca recently played for Vannes. Ayarza and Vialseca played against each other in a Rugby World Cup warm-up match in July 2023. Ayarza scored a try in the second half in a game that was won 26-25 by The Teros.

Ayarza was very active for Chile at the World Cup. Although he normally played as a centre in France, Pablo Lemoine used him as a full-back. Ayarza attracted attention when he represented his country at the World Cup against Japan in Toulouse, Samoa in Bordeaux, England in Lille and Argentina in Nantes.

Ayarza is a product of the PWCC club in Santiago, Chile. He moved to Bayonne, France, as an academy player in 2018. After also playing for Anglet, he moved from Bayonne to Soyaux Angoulême XV Charente in 2021. This season he helped the team to promotion from the Nationale to the Pro D2.