Tomas Francis: Wales prop quits Ospreys to join French club Provence
- Published
Tomas Francis left Exeter in 2021 for Ospreys and made 27 appearances for the Welsh side
Wales prop Tomas Francis has confirmed he will leave Ospreys to join French second division team Provence.
The 31-year-old still had a year remaining on his Ospreys contract and also needed Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) approval to move.
Ospreys and Wales head coach Warren Gatland agreed to Francis' request for an early release so he can sign a three-year deal in France.
The 71-cap player remains eligible for a third World Cup appearance in France.
"I have made the difficult decision to leave the Ospreys and pursue an opportunity abroad," said Francis.
"While this has not been an easy choice, I believe it is the right one for me and my family at this point in my career.
"It's extremely sad to be leaving such a close-knit team, which is full of both great players and people.
"I'd like to thank the Ospreys coaching staff in my time here, especially Duncan Jones for teaching an old dog some new tricks.
"I'd also like to thank the wider Ospreys family for their support and trust in me as a player, and for allowing me to make this move."
Ospreys head coach Toby Booth said: "Franny (Francis) came to us with a request to leave and we decided to act in the player's best interest by allowing him to do so.
"We respect his decision to leave the Ospreys and do what he believes is best for him and his family."
Francis remains part of Gatland's provisional World Cup squad and is expected to join the burgeoning club, based in Aix-en-Provence, after the tournament.
He is the latest player to leave a Welsh region as the domestic game faces severe cut-backs.
Joe Hawkins (Exeter), Cory Hill (Japan), Rhys Webb (Biarritz), Jarrod Evans (Harlequins) and Ross Moriarty (Brive) are just some of the high-profile Wales internationals who will play elsewhere as the four professional regions prepare to have up to £2m apiece stripped from their budgets.
Salary caps of £5.2m are being introduced for the 2023-24 season - and will drop to £4.5m for the 2024-25 campaign - for each of the four leading Welsh teams.
"Tomas Francis has got another year on his contract, but he decided to make that decision and through discussion Ospreys and Warren decided, 'okay, we will release him from his contract if that's what he wants to do'," acting WRU chief executive Nigel Walker told the Scrum V podcast.
"Yes players are leaving Wales, but they're leaving for different reasons. These conversations are taking place with the players' best interests at heart."
Gatland says he understood the decision.
"I have no issue with players making some tough decisions and that has always been my stance," said Gatland.
"The bottom line is players need to make the best decision for them, their future and their family.
"Players are in a career that is very short and sometimes, when you get a little older and towards the end of it, there are other things outside of just playing for Wales.
"You've got to think about how do I make sure that I provide security for my family over the next few years. Those details aren't always reported."