Tom Staniforth

Tom Staniforth is an Australian lock who has become a stalwart of the Castres Olympique pack in France's Top 14. Born on 13 August 1994, he began his professional career in Super Rugby with the Brumbies before a spell with the New South Wales Waratahs, earning a reputation as a hard-working second-row forward. He moved to Castres in 2021 and has since established himself as a reliable presence in the engine room of the Tarn club. Standing tall and built for the physical battles of the French league, Staniforth offers lineout work, set-piece stability and the relentless tackling and rucking that underpin effective lock play. His representative honours to date are at Australia Under-20 level, and although his long residency in France has brought him into the conversation for higher honours, he has yet to be capped at senior Test level. At Castres he is valued for his consistency, durability and physical contribution across a demanding domestic season. A dependable rather than flashy forward, Staniforth continues to provide the unglamorous graft in the tight exchanges that allows those around him to flourish.