The squad for 2026-2027 is set to undergo significant changes. With players leaving and new arrivals being announced, US Montauban will be signing Australian international Joey Walton for the next two seasons.
A new chapter is set to begin in the attack of the Green and Blacks with the departure of Max Mathy. A Sapiac legend who is expected to be honored during his final match. In order to fill the gap left by his departure, US Montauban has turned to Australian Joey Walton. At 25 years old, Walton is preparing to start a new chapter in his career by joining the team in Tarn-et-Garonne, with a contract running until 2028. Trained as a center in the demanding rugby ecosystem of New South Wales, Walton arrives in Tarn-et-Garonne with a reputation as a resilient and versatile player. A member of the Wallabies team that lost in the U20 World Championship final against France, Walton earned his first official cap for the Australian senior team last October in Japan. He may even be part of the team during the upcoming British Lions tour. This signing appears to be a great move by US Montauban’s general manager Johan Dalla Riva and manager Sébastien Tillous-Borde.
Coached by Chris Whitaker
Walton was born on May 27, 2000 in Newcastle, Australia, where rugby plays a central role in the sporting culture. Quickly excelling in school competitions, he progressed through the ranks of Australian rugby to join the NSW Waratahs academy, a major franchise in Super Rugby. With this team, coached by Chris Whitaker (former coach of US Montauban alongside Pierre-Philippe Lafond with a final lost to SU Agen in Bordeaux and a Pro D2 semi-final), Walton made his professional debut in 2020. He gradually established himself at the center of the field due to his defensive solidity, game reading skills, and his ability to involve others. Standing at approximately 1.82m and weighing nearly 94kg, Walton fits the modern profile of a center: powerful in impact, agile in space, and capable of maintaining game continuity in contact zones. His career has been marred by injuries such as fractures, torn ligaments, and disc herniation, but his resilience has earned him a reputation as a tough player. Described as a hard-working center, Walton is often referred to by his coaches as a “soldier” of the team. His arrival at US Montauban is expected to bring depth, high-level rugby experience, and a strong work ethic inherited from the Australian system.
