Castres Olympique did not hang about. Hit by the serious injury to Dalton Papali’i, who ruptured his Achilles tendon and will be out for at least six months, the Tarn club have confirmed the arrival of Scotland back-rower Hamish Watson.

At 34, the man nicknamed “Pinball” will discover the French league. With close to 60 Scotland caps to his name, he spent most of his career at Edinburgh (2013-2025) before a spell with the Leicester Tigers last season.

A British and Irish Lions tourist in 2021, Watson brings Castres a fighter’s profile and valuable experience to offset Papali’i’s absence in the back row.