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James Fender will move to France next season, having joined Pro D2 club Grenoble
Uncapped Wales second-row James Fender has signed a deal with ambitious French Pro D2 club Grenoble, it has been announced.
The Ospreys lock, who was included in Wales’ autumn squad but didn’t feature due to injury, will head to France at the end of the current season on a two-year deal. The 24-year-old came close to joining the club last season, only for the 25-cap rule to scupper his plans.
Fender was captured by the rule despite being uncapped because he was a player of national interest.
As such, had the Ospreys released him early from his contract, the Professional Rugby Board could have deemed he was ineligible to play for Wales.
However, amid the ongoing uncertainty in Welsh rugby, Fender has decided to leave for pastures new – with a deal signed earlier this week.
The Scarlets and another Welsh region had also made offers for Fender, but a deal didn’t materialise – with the contract offer signed off by the Welsh Rugby Union understood to be considerably lower than what was on offer in France.
That should mean he is free to play for Wales, with the player having signed the deal believing he is not captured.
Wales’ coaches are also understood to be under the impression he is available for selection, despite Steve Tandy having not chosen him in his Six Nations squad earlier this week.
However, no official confirmation has been offered by the Welsh Rugby Union or PRB yet.
There was also interest from a couple of Top 14 clubs and a Gallagher Prem side, but the project at Grenoble – with Fender having already met the club’s president – was believed to be a key part in signing.
So too was the chance to grow his game with regular minutes and responsibilities.
In heading to Grenoble, Fender joins former Ospreys fly-half and Wales international Sam Davies at the club.
“James will be a great addition to our pack of forwards,” said Davies in the club’s press release about the signing of Fender. “Compared by many as the heir to Welsh legend Alun Wyn Jones, he will bring physical power as well as real game intelligence, both in attack and in defence in the lineout area.”
The news of Fender’s departure comes just days after the Ospreys’ future was plunged into uncertainty.
On Monday, the WRU chose Ospreys’ owners Y11 as their preferred bidder for Cardiff, throwing the long-term future of the Ospreys into serious doubt.
On Tuesday, some players walked out of a meeting with club bosses as questions were asked of the club’s hierarchy.
