This is a transfer that could make some noise. Two years before the end of his contract, Castres right pillar Wilfrid Hounkpatin (32 years old, 1 selection against Australia in 2021) would be very close to joining Montpellier, according to our information.
On April 3, the international was sentenced to 12 months in prison with a suspended sentence and an obligation to follow an awareness course on domestic violence, and an obligation to undergo psychological treatment for acts of domestic violence, dating back to last January. . Since then, his future had become much more uncertain within the Tarn club which would have finally decided to release him. This season, Hounkpatin has played 13 matches, including eight as a starter, in the Castres jersey which he has worn since 2018.
Montpellier, in search of an additional high-level right-hander, has chosen to move forward with the file once retention in the Top 14 is assured. Negotiations are now reportedly very well advanced between the different parties. Hounkpatin would thus be in particular competition with Mohamed Haouas. Having left last season for Biarritz (Pro D2), the international (30 years old, 16 caps, the last in February 2023) was also sentenced to one year in prison in May 2023 for hitting his wife, then in June of the same year, to 18 months in prison, nine of which were closed, for “aggravated violence”, committed during a fight on January 1, 2014. The player appealed this decision.
