Michael Claassens: Bath scrum-half to leave at season end

Bath have confirmed scrum-half Michael Claassens will leave the club at the end of the current campaign.

The South Africa international has been at The Rec since 2007 and has played 120 games in the Premiership.

Claassens entered talks with French side Toulon earlier in the year, but it has not yet been confirmed where he will play next season.

"I'm very sad to leave because it's been a great six years," the 30-year-old told BBC Points West.

"My initial plan was to come over for two years but me and my wife ended up staying for six.

"The people have been awesome to us and it's such a great club, but I'm looking forward to a change. I probably only have another three or four years left to play and I'm looking for a new experience.

"I want to move away while I can. I don't want to wake up one day and regret it.

"I've had an awesome six years and I wouldn't change that for anything."

Bath announced on Tuesday that Ireland scrum-half Peter Stringer would be making a permanent move to the Rec for next season following a successful loan spell from Munster.

Stringer, 35, was initially drafted in as injury cover for Claassens, who was sidelined with a hand injury in January.