Lewis-Roberts was part of the Wales 2010 Six Nations squad

Sale Sharks' Welsh international prop Eifion Lewis-Roberts is moving to big-spending French Top 14 side Toulon for next season.

The 30-year-old underwent knee surgery in September and Sale hope he will return before the end of the season.

But he will then set sights on joining Jonny Wilkinson, Matt Giteau and fellow Welshman Gavin Henson in France.

Lewis-Roberts won his solitary Wales cap as a replacement against Canada in November 2008.

Sale announced in April 2010 that Lewis-Roberts would remain with them for a further three seasons.

But at Toulon he will rejoin ex-Sale boss Philippe St Andre, who is the club's director of rugby.

In doing so his name will be added to the list of Welsh players heading for France. They include current Test stars James Hook and Lee Byrne who are joining Perpignan and Clermont Ferrand respectively.

He could also find Sale's most recent ex-boss, Welshman Kingsley Jones, will be part of St Andre's backroom staff at Toulon.

Ex-Wales captain Jones has admitted he is considering an option to make the move after leaving Sale last month.

Ruthin-born former dairy farmer Lewis-Roberts, who at 21 stones has been the heaviest player in the Guinness Premiership, is affectionately known as 'the Fridge' by his team-mates at Edgeley Park.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version