Ratuva on way back to France after Begles deal
SCARLETS second row Tevita Ratuva will leave the Welsh region at the end of the season to join French Top 14 side Brive.
The news was announced last Wednesday, coming just two weeks after fellow lock Jake Ball revealed he was leaving the Scarlets and Welsh rugby to move to Australia with his family.
Ratuva’s impending departure means the Scarlets will surely be looking to make new signings themselves ahead of next season.
The Scarlets also have the likes of Sam Lousi and Morgan Jones on their books.
The Fijian international joined the region after the 2019 World Cup and has made 16 appearances.
“Tex has accepted an offer to join Brive in France and we wish him well for the next chapter of his career,” said Scarlets general manager of rugby Jon Daniels.
Ratuva’s departure signals a return to France for the lock. He signed for Bordeaux-begles in 2018 but did not feature for them after suffering a broken leg.
Jeremy Davidson, the manager of Brive, said: “He is very athletic and powerful, both in attack and defence.
“He will be able to integrate perfectly into our workforce because he has already lived in France.”
As for Ball, his wife Christie returned to Australia earlier this year with the couple’s three children and she gave birth to their fourth last month, with the lock thousands of miles away.
He is yet to meet his newborn son, Max.
With his family now settled back Down Under, Ball will join them in the summer.