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Former Junior All-American lock Nafi Ma’afu has signed a two-year contract with Montauban. The 27-year-old makes the move from Biarritz to the recently promoted club. He and Puma Lucio Sordoni are among the recent announcements made by Montauban for their return to the Top 14.
Ma’afu made 13 Pro D2 appearances for Biarritz in the 2024-2025 season. He also made 11 appearances the prior season and 3 in his rookie season at the club. Propr to Biarritz, Ma’afu played for Perpignan where he made 10 appearances across two seasons.
A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Nafi Ma’afu was a USA u20’s player in 2017. Despite his abilities he remains uncapped by the USA. His brother, Michael Ma’afu, also a No8, plays for Anthem RC in Major League Rugby. During his time playing professional rugby in France, Ma’afu has played both second-row and N8.
Montauban earned promotion to the Top 14 by winning the Pro D2 Final. The club did so with uncapped Facundo Pomponio starting at tight head prop. He played 45 minutes before being replaced by countryman Lucio Sordoni. Ironically, Sordoni is capped and has played seven test matches for Los Pumas. He started against the All Blacks at Eden Park in the 2024 Rugby Championship.
In addition to the two props, two other Argentines play for Montauban. They are fullback Segundo Tuculet and flanker Tomás Lezana. Segundo Tuculet is uncapped while Lezana earned 40 caps for Argentina. Lezana featured for Argentina at Rugby World Cup 2019. He received game time in all four pool matches and started at the back of the scrum against Tonga in Osaka.
