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