Castres Olympique: Santiago Arata finally extends the adventure with the OC, even though his departure was confirmed

This is called a turnaround. Santiago Arata, announced on his departure from Castres Olympique at the end of the season, has finally extended the adventure in the Tarn club for the next four seasons.

However, even the CO announced his departure in a press release in mid-September. “Santiago Arata, who grew up with us, refused our extension proposal, Castres president Pierre-Yves Revol wrote on the CO website. I have no doubt about his involvement for the current season and I wish the best. I have a lot of affection for him but the CO will be able to find a successor, if possible JIFF, of good quality.” The 28-year-old Uruguayan international scrum-half, who arrived in Castres in 2020, was even already announced to Racing 92, whose facilities he visited.

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“After seeing several other clubs, Santiago wanted to see me again. I opened my door and we spent three hours together, without an intermediary, to reach an agreement that we both really wanted” explained Pierre-Yves Revol before adding: “Even if he is a foreigner, he is also a child of the CO, very attached to our environment. He is talented but also very determined and important in our locker room. He will spend most of his career with us and perhaps his entire career. It will be, with a few others, an important element in the stability of our workforce and the strengthening of our identity. »

“We decided together, with my wife, to continue our project in Castres, our home”

On the club’s website Santiago Arata also explains this change of heart: “The president had set me a short deadline, and at first, I did not want to commit so quickly. We therefore decided to meet again and took the time to discuss things to better understand our respective positions and seek an agreement. It is true that other clubs approached me, and I even visited some of them. But after evaluating all the options, we decided together, with my wife, to continue our project in Castres, our home. It is an immense joy for me and my family to continue my career here, and to be able, I hope, to make OC history. I like this club, its identity, its ability to meet challenges while remaining faithful to its history, while being very close to its supporters. I am happy and liberated to stay “at home” and continue to fully invest in this jersey. »

Like Rory Kockott in 2013

This is not the first time that Arata’s departure has fueled rumors. Already at the start of last season, the player stirred up desire when his contract ended in June 2024. Stade Toulouse also wanted to enlist him. But the CO finally announced to everyone’s surprise that the scrum-half had agreed to re-enlist for two more years, therefore until 2026. But the last year was optional. And the player could therefore benefit from an exit voucher at the end of this season, once again attracting the interest of several other big teams.

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INFO THE DISPATCH. Transfers – Castres Olympique: Highly coveted, Arata towards a departure from the CO?

Finally, new recent discussions allowed the club from the Tarn sub-prefecture and the player to find, against all expectations, an agreement and to sign a new contract this Tuesday binding them until 2029.

An episode which is reminiscent of another famous Castres scrum-half. In 2013, Rory Kockott had indeed signed a pre-contract with Toulon before withdrawing to finally stay in Castres.

The CO, which has already extended the local boy Jérémy Fernandez in mid-September until 2028, has therefore achieved a good move by ensuring that it keeps its two holders who share the scrum-half position for the next seasons.