According to information from Midi Olympique, Argentinian hooker Julian Montoya (30 years old, 98 caps) would be in discussions with certain Top 14 teams. The Leicester Tigers player is coming off a successful Rugby Championship with the Argentine selection. Captain of the Pumas, he has asserted himself, for several seasons, as one of the best players in the world at his position. Obviously, all this attracts desire. We tried to find out which French clubs were likely to welcome the hooker in 26 tests in 59 Premiership matches.
Montoya has no shortage of proposals
Still according to the biweekly, Montoya would be courted by several teams in our championship and would not lack offers. It’s no secret that Australian Folau Fainga’a is expected to leave Clermont at the end of the season. The Auvergne leaders could seek to compensate for the departure of the excellent hooker with a big caliber player. Montoya could be one of them. However, the Auvergne board would have set its sights on Romain Latterrade according to Actu Rugby. The Union Bordeaux-Bègles player has the advantage of being JIFF and still young (28 years old).
With this game of musical chairs, the UBB could therefore turn to the Argentinian, but Midi Olympique informs us that the All Blacks Asafo Aumua (27 years old, 25 caps) would be the priority of the Gironde club. However, knowing the complexity of bringing in a New Zealand international likely to play in the World Cup, it is not impossible that the latter fall back on Montoya.
Janick Tarrit (25 years old), at the end of his contract in the summer of 2025, did not exclude the idea of leave Racing 92 pour rally Lyon, which has already made him an offer. As a result, the Hauts-de-Seine club could look into Montoya. Finally, Gaëtan Barlot, also free next June, should not continue in Tarn. The Castres could take advantage of the windfall to sign the former resident of the Jaguares.
At any rate, the hooker market is likely to be turbulent in the coming weeks. And Top 14 aficionados should therefore see a new star succumb to the siren songs of the big French teams and set foot on the lawns of our championship.
