Sports

Ex-Puma Urdapilleta shuns retirement to play on at 40

Published on Juli 9, 2026 at 18:51

Benjamin Urdapilleta is just two points short of the Top 14 points-scoring record
Benjamin Urdapilleta is just two points short of the Top 14 points-scoring record
Ex-Puma Urdapilleta shuns retirement to play on at 40

Veteran former Argentina fly-half Benjamin Urdapilleta will come out of a retirement for a second time after signing a one-year contract extension with Perpignan, a source close to the French Top 14 club told AFP on Thursday.

The 40-year-old had stopped playing and returned home to Argentina before signing a short-term deal with the Catalans in November 2025, helping them to Top 14 safety in June.

He began his career in Argentina before moving to Harlequins in England in 2010. 

Three years later he moved to Oyonnax in France where he has spent the rest of his career, principally with Castres, whom he helped to the Top 14 title in 2018. 

He also played two season for Clermont before retiring for the first time. After helping Perpignan to safety in June he called it quits for a second time.  

Urdapilleta, who also played 19 times for Argentina including at the 2019 World Cup, is two points away from Romain Teulet's Top 14 scoring record of 2,612.

Perpignan are expected to announce his return during a press conference on Friday.

The new Top 14 season begins on the weekend of September 5-6 with Perpignan heading to Stade Francais in Paris. 

cor/fs/iwd/bsp 

© Agence France-Presse

Verwandte Themen
  • Global Edition
  • Sports
  • American Edition
  • Latin America

Latest stories

Weltgeschehen Von Drogenboss Escobar finanziert: Justiz in Kolumbien will Haus von Ex-Fußballstar Higuita beschlagnahmen

Ein Gericht in Kolumbien hat die Beschlagnahmung eines Hauses des legendären kolumbianischen Ex-Fußball-Nationaltorwarts René Higuita angeordnet. Die Richter sahen es als erwiesen an, dass der Kauf des Anwesens mit Geldern des einstigen Drogenbosses Pablo Escobar finanziert worden war. Die an dem Geschäft Beteiligten hätten unter anderem Unterschriften gefälscht, um die Herkunft des Geldes...

09 Juli 2026 — vor 54 minutes