Wales lock Adam Beard set to leave the Ospreys

Adam Beard is poised to confirm that he is leaving Ospreys at the end of the season and is on the brink of confirming that he is signing for Top 14 outfit Montpellier on a three-year contract.

The 6 ft 8 in Wales and Lions lock has been having talks with his home town club about signing a new deal, but media reports across the channel claim that he will be moving to the GGL Stadium next season.

Beard, 29, joined the Ospreys in 2015 and has made 129 appearances, including five this season, after recovering from an ankle injury that caused him to miss the summer tests against South Africa and Australia.

He was hurt after landing awkwardly in the Ospreys' 61-24 defeat by the Bulls in April and has been a regular under Warren Gatland, winning the last of his 56 caps against Italy in last season’s Six Nations.

Ospreys boss Toby Booth, who is also leaving the club at the end of the season, recently admitted that he wasn’t surprised that Beard had been attracting interest from big-spending French sides.

“Everyone knows that Adam Beard is an absolute quality operator and has been influential for me and my time here. He’s a brilliant leader, a brilliant line-out forward who prepares the team.

“So I’m not surprised he generates interest. The challenge is always to try and keep your best players,” the former London Irish head coach told the BBC.

Welsh regions are increasing the salary cap to £5 million next season but don’t have the resources to stop players from moving to France who can offer significant pay raises.

Beard, who won one Lions cap against South Africa in the 19-16 Cape Town defeat in August 2021, would still be eligible to play for Wales and will be the second Welsh lock to play in the Top 14 with Will Rowlands at Racing 92.