As the Tarn club prepares to face Clermont this Saturday in the Top 14, several major players will be missing. Latest bad news to date: Baptiste Delaporte, injured against Stade Rochelais, suffers from a ruptured biceps.
Delaporte unavailable for several months
Victim of a serious arm injury, the third row will be operated on Monday and will have to observe a convalescence period of 3 to 4 months. A hard blow for Castres, which loses one of its leaders on the field and in the locker room. Delaporte's injury adds to an already significant list of absentees, further weakening a squad seeking consistency in this demanding Top 14.
Delaporte joins Christian Ambadiang and Tom Staniforth, still in rehabilitation, while Baptiste Cope (dislocated shoulder) will have to follow a strengthening program of several weeks before returning to competition.
As for Louis Le Brun, affected by a concussion, the hope is more tangible: the young fly-half will return to training on Monday. Finally, Romain Macurdy will gradually resume in December, according to information from the official CO website.
A battle to be fought in Clermont
Despite these absences, the CO remains a team renowned for its resilience. Christophe Urios, former Castres manager, knows this mentality well and expects an intense clash.
In this context, Castres will have to draw on its resources and rely on players like Jack Goodhue, author of notable performances in recent weeks, to compensate for these absences.
While Clermont fields executives like Marcos Kremer, Lee or Moala, the Castres team will once again have to prove that they never give up. The challenge is immense, but if one thing is certain, it is that the OC will not surrender without a fight.
