RACING 92 VETERAN Luke Charteris has confirmed he will be playing for Bath next season, ending his four-year stay in France.
Charteris, 32, revealed his future plans after Racing’s 29-12 European Rugby Champions Cup win over Scarlets yesterday.
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The 62-cap Wales international, who spent two years with French side Perpignan before joining Racing in 2014, had an offer from Cardiff Blues but he had already agreed to join Bath in the Aviva Premiership.
“It’s a great opportunity as that’s where I live when I’m back in the UK, having been to university there,” Charteris said. “My wife’s family are there, so with the little ones, that’s the place that’s going to be very good for me.
“I’ll be coming back and playing at a very high level of rugby, which is important. Being in a team like Racing now, I want to come back and be challenging and Bath are a very, very strong team and hopefully I can go in and add something there.”
Charteris added: “There obviously was a temptation to come back to Wales. The thing for me being an older player, I am not a priority for a dual contract and I understand that. I didn’t have an offer from a Welsh team to come back when I agreed there [with Bath].
“Afterwards, Cardiff did come to me and say they would like me to come back but I had already signed. It had already been done and dusted.”
Bath snap up experienced Welsh international from Racing 92
RACING 92 VETERAN Luke Charteris has confirmed he will be playing for Bath next season, ending his four-year stay in France.
Charteris, 32, revealed his future plans after Racing’s 29-12 European Rugby Champions Cup win over Scarlets yesterday.
The 62-cap Wales international, who spent two years with French side Perpignan before joining Racing in 2014, had an offer from Cardiff Blues but he had already agreed to join Bath in the Aviva Premiership.
“It’s a great opportunity as that’s where I live when I’m back in the UK, having been to university there,” Charteris said. “My wife’s family are there, so with the little ones, that’s the place that’s going to be very good for me.
“I’ll be coming back and playing at a very high level of rugby, which is important. Being in a team like Racing now, I want to come back and be challenging and Bath are a very, very strong team and hopefully I can go in and add something there.”
Charteris added: “There obviously was a temptation to come back to Wales. The thing for me being an older player, I am not a priority for a dual contract and I understand that. I didn’t have an offer from a Welsh team to come back when I agreed there [with Bath].
“Afterwards, Cardiff did come to me and say they would like me to come back but I had already signed. It had already been done and dusted.”
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