Sale Sharks have signed Wales international tight-head prop Tomas Francis on a two-year deal from the start of next season.
The 33-year-old previously played in the English top flight with Exeter Chiefs, where he made 120 appearances and won the league and Champions Cup double in 2020.
He went on to join Ospreys in 2021 and spent two season with the region before moving to French second tier side Provence in 2023.
“I had a really good time at Exeter so I know the Prem well and I’m looking forward to playing with guys like Luke Cowan-Dickie again,” he said., external
“I’ve had a real adventure in France but I wanted to take the next step and after I spoke to Alex [Sanderson, director of rugby], I knew this was the right move.
“Something really exciting is building at Sale. They play the kind of rugby I love, it’s a top four squad and I want to be a part of that.”
A prolific international, Francis has won 77 caps for Wales, played in three rugby union World Cups and won a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2019.
He links up with fellow Wales international Nicky Smith after the Leicester loose-head also agreed to join Sale for next season and hopes to return to Test rugby.
“I love playing for Wales and I’ve still got aspirations to pull on that red shirt again,” said Francis.
Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson said: “At his age he still wants to play at the very top level and he sees this club as a way to do that.
“Adding him and Nicky to the squad is fantastic because that’s almost 140 caps of experience. On the field Tom will be brilliant, but off the field, I know that experience will really benefit our younger props like Asher and Bevan.”
The announcement of Sale’s addition of Francis comes a day after scrum-half Raffi Quirke confirmed he was leaving the club after eight years to join Newcastle Red Bulls.
.png?trim=0,0,0,0&width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800 "Join a Q&A with Miguel Delaney on manager merry-go-round, Premier League politics and football’s odd problem – UK Times")