Aaron Jarvis, the Wales tight-head prop, will move to Clermont Auvergne next season on a two-year deal, potentially ending his hopes of earning an international recall.
Jarvis joined the Ospreys from Bath in 2011 and has played 86 times for the Welsh side. The 29-year-old made his Wales debut against Argentina in November 2012 and has won 16 caps.
But Jarvis has slipped behind Samson Lee, 23, and Tomas Francis, 23, in Wales’s tighthead pecking order recently and his move to the Top 14 in France could limit his international ambitions, with Warren Gatland, the Wales coach, only able to pick three foreign-based players to play for the national side next season.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time with the Ospreys and am proud of everything we’ve achieved over the last five years,” Jarvis said. “There’s still a job to do this season though and I’ll be giving it everything to ensure that I finish on a high before moving on to a fresh challenge with my new club.”
Franck Azéma, the head coach of Clermont, who are third in the French table, said that Jarvis’s experience had made him the perfect candidate to replace Daniel Kötze, the Castres-bound prop.
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“He has a very rich experience. He knows the Premiership, Celtic League, the European Cup and the international level,” Azéma said. “Aaron has this profile and his qualities fit the game we practice.”
Other Clermont recruits include Sitaleki Timani, Rémi Lamerat and Isaia Toeava. The team also have three other props on the books in Davit Zirakashvili, Clément Ric and Michaël Simutoga, the youngster.