French
international scrum-half Morgan Parra has agreed to join Clermont Auvergne
from Bourgoin at the end of the season.
The highly
rated Parra has signed a four-year contract and becomes the latest high
profile player to join Les Jaunards in their ongoing recruitment campaign.
Sale’s former Scotland captain Jason White confirmed his switch earlier this
month.
Parra said
the attraction of playing for a club which regularly contested the Top 14
play-offs had been decisive. “Clermont will enable me to evolve in the years
to come,” he added.
He also
revealed that he had initially been approached to join them last year but
decided on one more season with Bourgoin, believing he owed them some
loyalty after he had progressed to the national team under their guidance.
Parra
further confirmed that Bourgoin’s ongoing struggles, both on and off the
pitch had played their part, saying the club’s uncertain future had been a
factor in his decision to leave.
Toulon, meanwhile, have denied rumours they are
interested in signing Northampton Saints fly-half Carlos Spencer.
Media
manager Benjamin Larrue said the club had not had any talks with the former
All Black, contrary to reports in French newspaper La Provence.
Perpignan scrum-half Chris Cusiter was named in
Scotland’s RBS Six Nations squad – together with club-mate Nathan Hines –
but reports in the British press suggest he could be leaving Top 14 at the
end of the season.
According to the Evening Times the 2005
British and Irish Lion could be heading back to Glasgow when his contract
expires at the end of the season, with the Scottish Rugby Union keen to
facilitate the move.
Toulouse, still reeling from their shock weekend
home defeat to Glasgow, hope to have a quartet of major players back in
action for Sunday’s winner-takes-all away trip to Bath in the Heineken Cup.
French
internationals Thierry Dusautoir, William Servat and Maxime Medard are all
available for the Pool 6 match, together with club captain Benoit Lecouls.
Romain
Milo-Chluski remains doubtful with an elbow injury, as does centre Florian
Fritz, with a sprained ankle – although coach Guy Noves is hopeful of the
latter’s involvement. However, fly-half David Skrela is definitely out.
Bath’s preparations, on the other hand, have been
thrown into turmoil by prop Matthew Stevens’ positive drugs test for
cocaine.
The
England international – who has admitted to a drugs problem and is now
undergoing counselling treatment – returned a positive test after Bath’s
Heineken Cup clash with Glasgow last month.
He has
already been suspended indefinitely by his club and is facing up to the
prospect of a two-year ban from the game.
The
26-year-old has won 32 caps for England and has been a pillar of Bath’s
success since joining in 2002.
“Clearly
the timing is most unfortunate, particularly as we are focused on the big
game on Sunday” admitted Bath chief executive Bob Calleja. “Hopefully we are
still focused.
