Reda Wardi will make his official debut for Montpellier on Saturday against Stade Français during the sixth round of the Top 14 season, club manager Joan Caudullo announced. The 31-year-old international loosehead prop steps into the lineup to replace Baptiste Erdocio, who sustained a left biceps injury during Sunday’s match against Toulon.
Montpellier Recovers Wardi as Erdocio Undergoes Surgery
Wardi arrives at Montpellier following a seven-year stint with La Rochelle that ran from 2019 to 2026. A calf injury sustained during the final stages of summer preparation sidelined the front-row forward for the opening five fixtures of the domestic campaign. Caudullo expressed relief at securing the experienced prop’s return. “Reda will play against Paris,” Caudullo said. “I am happy to get him back. He is a leader of the group, even though he is brand new.” Wardi brings 20 international caps to a Montpellier pack currently sitting fifth in the Top 14 standings.
First-Row Injury Crisis Prompts Medical Joker Search
Montpellier faces mounting casualties across its front-row unit ahead of the weekend fixture. Erdocio requires surgery on Friday to repair his torn left biceps, leaving young prop Valentin Welsch to share loosehead duties with Wardi. The club’s injury list also features tighthead prop Mohamed Haouas, recovering from pubalgia, and hooker Jordan Uelese, sidelined with a jaw injury. Consequently, management is evaluating the recruitment of a medical joker. “We are asking ourselves the question,” Caudullo said regarding the search for front-row reinforcements. “We are working to try to have either a loosehead prop or a tighthead prop. In any case, we want a player capable of playing in the Top 14 tomorrow.”
International Window Looms for Returning Prop
Wardi’s return to the pitch arrives less than a month before France’s upcoming autumn international fixtures. Les Bleus are scheduled to face Fiji, South Africa, and Argentina during the international window. Wardi previously featured for the national team this past summer against New Zealand and Japan. Looking ahead at domestic integration, Caudullo outlined a clear path for the forward. “Even without knowing Baptiste’s injury, I told Reda that he was sure to string together two or three performances to see where he was at,” Caudullo noted. “Then, we’ll see in relation to the competition.”
Ligue Nationale De Rugby Manages Kickoff and Broadcast Details
Kickoff time and broadcast details follow the standard league schedule managed by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby.
Keep reading
