Sports · Other Sports · 7 hrs ago
Clément Castets joins the Crusaders for the 2027 Super Rugby season
French prop Clément Castets will join the Crusaders for the 2027 Super Rugby season in New Zealand.
The 30-year-old has signed as a medical replacement for All Black Tamaiti Williams, who is dealing with a serious back infection.
Castets was developed at French club Stade Toulousain and moved to New Zealand in 2025.
He had an injury-hit first season in the National Provincial Championship, then played 10 matches this year.
His season included a quarter-final loss against Otago.
The move gives Castets a place in Super Rugby, the leading club competition in the southern hemisphere.
He had also spoken with Perpignan, but will stay in Oceania.
Clément Castets has joined the Crusaders for the 2027 Super Rugby season.
The French loosehead prop will cover for All Black Tamaiti Williams as a medical replacement.
Williams has been dealing with a serious back infection for several months.
Castets, 30, will remain in New Zealand after playing for an NPC team this year.
- Who
- Clément Castets, a French loosehead prop.
- What
- He has joined the Crusaders as a medical replacement for Tamaiti Williams.
- When
- For the 2027 Super Rugby season; the Crusaders announced the signing on Wednesday, 28 October 2026.
- Where
- New Zealand, with the Crusaders in Super Rugby.
- Why
- Williams is dealing with a serious back infection.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Castets said he had Super Rugby in mind when he arrived in New Zealand.
After injuries disrupted his first NPC season, Castets played ten matches this year, including a quarter-final loss to Otago.
The Crusaders announced Castets would join them for the 2027 Super Rugby season.
- Team
- Crusaders
- Season
- 2027 Super Rugby
- Role
- Medical replacement for Tamaiti Williams
- Age
- 30
- NPC appearances
- 10 matches this year
3 sources
What people are saying
I am competitive. I may say I’m taking it easy, but I have Super Rugby in mind; it would be incredible!