James to quit Clermont for La Rochelle

Tuesday 1 Dec 2015

James, 34, has been with Clermont since 2006, leading the Auvergne club to the French championship title in 2010.

In nine seasons with Clermont, the former Taranaki, Queensland Reds and Western Force playmaker played in and lost four other domestic finals [2007, 2008, 2009, 2015] as well as two European Cup finals [2013, 2015], each time to Toulon.

Three times the season's top scorer in the Top 14, James has had French nationality since 2013 but has never been eligible for Les Bleus after having turned out for the Australian Sevens team.

Clermont meanwhile announced the arrival in a similar deal of Australian lock Sitaleki Timani from Montpellier.

The versatile 29-year-old has been capped 18 times by the Wallabies and touched down in Montpellier in 2013.

Agence France-Presse

Join free

James to quit Clermont for La Rochelle

Join free

Cape Town | Leg 1 | Day 2 | HSBC Challenger Series 2025 | Full Day Replay

Gloucester-Hartpury vs Bristol Bears | PWR 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 36 | Six Nations Round 3 Review

Why did Scotland's Finn Russell take the crucial kick from the wrong place? | Whistle Watch

England A vs Ireland A | Full Match Replay

Kubota Spears vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | JRLO 2024/2025 | Full Match Replay

O2 Inside Line: This Rose | Episode 3 | France Week

Watch now: Lomu - The Lost Tapes

Recommended

SA aiming for Challenger Series top spot

Currie Cup spots up for grabs

Star wing returns to Scotland line-up for Wales clash

VIDEO: Why Boks 'are not comfortable'