Regan Grace: St Helens winger to switch codes with Racing 92 after 2022 season
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French clubs have no salary cap, and can spend bigger on talent like Regan Grace
St Helens and Wales winger Regan Grace will leave at the end of the 2022 Super League season to switch codes with French Top 14 side Racing 92.
The 25-year-old will join the Parisian giants after rejecting the offer of an extended deal with the reigning rugby league champions.
Port Talbot-born Grace, who played the 15-man code before joining Saints, has 89 tries in 143 games in league.
"I want to thank everyone at St Helens," Grace said.
"To win three Super League titles and a Challenge Cup has been a dream come true, and my full focus is now ensuring we win a fourth title at the end of the year."
Although Wales has a 60-cap rule for foreign-based players, Grace would be entitled to play for Wales for the duration of his Racing contract in the way Leicester's recent debutant Tommy Reffell can represent the country.
However, it would be once the current deal ends that Grace would need to decide whether to move to a Welsh region to continue his international progress.
Chairman Eamonn McManus described the Welshman's contribution to Saints' period of success as "exciting and important".
"We clearly very much wanted him to stay at the Saints and in Super League in the years ahead," he said.
"However, we fully accept and respect his decision to pursue a new career, life and lifestyle in France and wish him and his family every happiness and success."
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