After botched transfer Luka Matkava now has a Top 14 club

After a failed transfer to France last July, Georgian fly-half Luka Matkava is now set for his first taste of Top 14 action by joining Castres as a medical joker.

The 23-year-old will replace utility back Pierre Popelin, who is ruled out for the rest of the season through serious injury, according to French outlet L’Équipe.

Castres head coach Xavier Sadourny called on the board to bolster the squad ahead of the league’s final six rounds, with his team well placed to reach the playoffs.

British & Irish Lions coaching team press conference

Andy Farrell and his British and Irish Lions coaching team take questions from Alex Payne ahead of their 2025 tour of Australia.

British & Irish Lions coaching team press conference

Andy Farrell and his British and Irish Lions coaching team take questions from Alex Payne ahead of their 2025 tour of Australia.

With Popelin sidelined, Castres have only Louis Le Brun and Julien Dumora covering the No.10 shirt. Le Brun has been first choice, but the promising playmaker needs a breather before the knockout stages. Dumora, 37, began the season as a reserve but has stepped up in Popelin’s absence.

Matkava has caught the eye since 2021, playing a vital part in Georgia’s shock win over Wales at the Millennium Stadium in 2022. His handling and kicking prowess earned him a call to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where he started three of Georgia’s four games.

Having helped Georgia claim three Men’s Rugby Europe Championship titles, amassing 190 points in 27 caps, Matkava saw his initial move to Montpellier cancelled weeks into the season. Now, Castres marks his first experience abroad.

RugbyPass understands that if his loan spell goes well, the deal could extend by another season. Matkava’s non-JIFF status has historically been a stumbling block to joining a Top 14 outfit, but he now has a chance to prove himself in one of the world’s most competitive leagues.