Joe Powell to join ex-Wallabies teammate in France's Pro D2

Former Australia scrum-half Joe Powell has signed a three-year deal with French outfit US Montauban ahead of next season.

The 30-year-old left Leicester Tigers with immediate effect in January, having only moved to Welford Road at the beginning of the season following the demise of his previous club London Irish.

The former ACT Brumbies and Melbourne Rebels No9 will join his former Australia teammate Ned Hanigan in France's second division next season, with the forward agreeing to join Provence from the New South Wales Waratahs in May.

Powell played with Hanigan in gold in 2017, when he won his four caps for the Wallabies.

Provence finished at the summit of the ProD2 table last season, but failed to secure promotion in the play-offs. Montauban, meanwhile, finished second-from-bottom in the league and were forced to face second-place Nationale finishers Narbonne in a relegation play-off- a match they won 20-19 to remain in ProD2 next season.

Following Powell's exit from Welford Road earlier this year, Leicester general manager Richard Wilks said: “It’s always tough to see good people leave and both these lads are exceptional people and they’ll be missed around the club.

“Joe Powell has obviously only been with us for a short time, and it’s never easy to come into an environment for a short period but Powelly worked his socks off every day and the lads loved having him around."