Written by Jordan Mitchell
Racing 92 are poised to keep one of their biggest enforcers for longer — and it changes the picture for their pack planning overnight.
Romain Taofifenua looked like he was heading toward the final chapter of his playing career. Instead, the veteran France lock is now set to reverse course — with reports indicating he’s expected to extend his Racing 92 stay on a new two-year deal through 2028.
The 35-year-old second-row — listed at a towering 6’8” and around 138kg — has been a constant physical reference point since arriving in Paris in 2024. He’s been used as a close-range battering ram, a set-piece anchor, and the kind of steady power carrier coaches trust when a match turns ugly.
Why this matters for Racing 92
Racing’s forward balance has been a talking point all season, and keeping Taofifenua for two more years is a direct statement: the club wants experience and set-piece security while it reshapes the squad. It also offers stability at lock, especially with contract questions around other internationals in the engine room.
For Racing supporters, it’s a simple message: the “big man” isn’t walking away — not yet. And if you’ve watched Racing in tight games, you know exactly why that’s a relief.
What Taofifenua has already said goodbye to
This is a club-career continuation, not an international comeback. Taofifenua retired from Test rugby after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, finishing with 59 caps for France. But his domestic value hasn’t dipped — if anything, his role has become even clearer: do the hard metres, own the collisions, and keep the set-piece steady.
The expectation now is that Racing 92 will keep leaning on that formula deep into the 2027–28 window — a rare vote of confidence for a forward heading into his late 30s.
Read more: RugbyPass report on Taofifenua’s retirement U-turn and expected Racing 92 extension
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