The 31-year-old Australian colossus Tom Staniforth, a fearsome tackler and jackaller, has committed for an extra year with the Tarn club.

Castres have just secured the “rock” of their squad. Having arrived in the Tarn in 2020 without any fanfare, Staniforth, 31, won over his staff and his team-mates alike, stringing together substantial performances. A genuine impact player and a menace at the breakdown, the Australian quickly became the darling of the Castres supporters. Last year, though, the giant lock went through a difficult spell following a serious ankle injury, which kept him off the pitch for virtually the whole season.

Back in action as early as round 2 of the championship against RC Toulon, he confirmed that he had lost none of his appetite for the fight, notably in the art of tackling, an area in which he shone from 2022 to 2024 in the Tarn jersey. Eye-catching performances that led the CO board to extend his contract for an extra season, that is until June 2027.