Joe Simmonds won't be returning to England anytime soon

Joe Simmonds will be staying in France until the summer of 2028, at least after penning a three-year contract extension to remain with Pau.

Simmonds, 27, was the youngest captain to win the Champions Cup when he led Exeter Chiefs to success four years ago.

He moved to Pau in July 2023 when his Chiefs contract ran out and was the leading points scorer in the Top 14 last season after forming a lethal partnership with former Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson.

The former England under-20 fly-half scored 279 points in 24 games last season, helping Pau finish ninth in the table. He has 23 points from two games so far this campaign.

Speaking to RugbyPass earlier this year, Simmonds was happy about his decision to move across the channel with younger brother Sam. Sam joined Montpelier when his Chiefs deal ran out at the same time.

Even though he has ambitions of winning an England cap, he has opted to renew his deal, which will mean he will continue to be unavailable for Steve Borthwick to select.

"I'm 27 who knows where I'm going to be in the next two years, for me I just wanted to come out here and just love rugby again, and I feel like I'm doing that.

"I've been here four or five months now and I'm really enjoying my rugby, and that's just because I made this decision to come out here.

"I'd love to play for England. And obviously, I've got to be in England to play, but for now, my job is to keep improving here and helping the team win games," he said.

Sam is out of contract at the end of the season and was linked with a Pau reunion with his sibling last season when Montpelier was threatened with relegation. However, they do have a one-year option on him.