TOMAS DELIGHTED TO JOIN OSPREYS

PROP Tomas Francis says he is looking forward to working with the Ospreys, after signing a three-year contract with the Welsh region from English and European champions Exeter Chiefs.

The 28-year-old tighthead, who qualifies for the Wales national team through his grandmother – who hails from Abercrave – will link up with the Welsh region for the 2021-22 season.

A Grand Slam winner and World Cup semi-finalist, Francis is a proven performer at Test level, having been capped 52 times by Wales – and is delighted to be joining the Ospreys this summer.

“I spoke to the Welsh regions, but I was impressed with the vision of head coach, Toby Booth, and where he wanted to take the Ospreys,” said Francis. “His attention to detail and knowledge of my game, and what he and Duncan Jones laid out to me, was really appealing.

“Toby and the coaches there are starting to steer the ship in the right direction. It’s just an exciting challenge for myself, and I can see the potential there. Off the pitch there is a new backer, and it’s exciting to see where that takes the Ospreys.

“The boys I know in the Wales squad all talked positively about what is happening at the Ospreys, and it seems like a place that is heading in the right direction. The Ospreys just stood out to me as the region that is going places.

“I know a lot of the boys there from the Wales set-up and the squad has some talented youngsters, sprinkled with some real experience and knowledge. I know there will be real competition for the shirt and we all need that as players.

“Signing for the Ospreys will allow me to continue to play for Wales, something I was not willing to give up, but to do that I know I have to perform and earn my place with the Ospreys. Performing for the Ospreys will give me the opportunity to be selected for international rugby.”

The Wales international policy states that players with fewer than 60 caps have to play for a Welsh team at the end of their current contract, and Francis' Exeter deal ends in the summer of 2021.

He said: "I knew there would be a time when I would have to make a decision on my future. It's not been easy, in fact, it's been the toughest decision I've had to make in my career. I'm still ambitious and keen to keep improving, and I see Ospreys as the perfect place to do that."

Ospreys’ head coach Toby Booth believes bringing in the experience of Francis while continuing to develop their own talent underlines the ambitious vision he has for the Welsh region.

“In our new era and on the journey we are on, it is important to show both ambition and a desire to develop our own players,” said Booth.

“Signing a current international tighthead prop with a winning history and mentality will help the Ospreys make the steps we need to make and fuel the ambition now and for the long term future.

"He has won European and domestic honours and he will bring a wealth of experience and a massive set-piece capability to our squad. His qualities will prove invaluable going forward as we prepare for the new challenges presented by the new PRO16 competition.”