‘Donny Tommy’ confirms he will be leaving Exeter Chiefs
Welsh international to join Ospreys when his contract expires at Sandy Park
EXETER Chiefs’ Welsh international prop Tomas Francis has officially signed a deal to join Ospreys on a three-year contract.
A Grand Slam winner and World Cup semi-finalist with Wales, Francis is also an European Cup and English Premiership winner with Exeter Chiefs and has made 115 appearances for the Devon club since joining them from Doncaster Knights in 2014. The forward will join Ospreys in the summer.
Francis, 28, has been capped 52-times by Wales, but would have been ruled unavailable for selection for further international honours next season by the WRU’s 60-cap policy for players operating outside of the Pro14, if he had signed a new deal at Exeter.
Francis, said: “I still have a huge ambition to play international rugby regularly and that was a key part in my decision-making.
“Signing for the Ospreys will allow me to continue to play for Wales, something I was not willing to give up, but to do that I know I have to perform and earn my place with the Ospreys. Performing for the Ospreys will give me the opportunity to be selected for international rugby.
“I’m still ambitious and keen to keep improving and I see Ospreys as the perfect place to do that.”
“I spoke to the Welsh regions but I was impressed with the vision of [Ospreys] head coach, Toby Booth, and where he wanted to take the Ospreys. His attention to detail and knowledge of my game and what he and Duncan Jones laid out to me was really appealing.”
“The boys I know in the Wales squad all talked positively about what is happening at the Ospreys and it seems like a place that is heading in the right direction. The Ospreys just stood out to me as the region that is going places.
“I know a lot of the boys there from the Wales set-up and the squad has some talented youngsters sprinkled with some real experience and knowledge. I know there will be real competition for the shirt and we all need that as players.
But Francis admitted it has been a tough decision to leave Chiefs.
He said: “I knew there would be a time when I would have to make a decision on my future.
“It’s not been easy - in fact it’s been the toughest decision I’ve had to make in my career - but I’ve had to do it to make sure I can carry on playing international rugby.
“Since the moment I arrived at the Chiefs, it’s been an unbelievable journey for me. I came here six, seven years ago as a Championship player and now I’m leaving as a 50+ cap international and with two Premiership and one European title under my belt.
“What I have achieved with the Chiefs - and what I still hope to achieve this season - is something special. As a player in this group, I’ve been incredibly privileged to be part of a special journey. The culture we have here, both on and off the field, is second to none and although I’m leaving, I know I will have friends for life from the experiences I’ve had with them.”
But Francis is not a out to switch off with the majority of the 2020/21 season to play. He said: “I know between now and the end of the season, I will be giving everything I can to ensure my time with the Chiefs ends on a high. “I want to give back to the club because they have been so good to me over the years. Both Rob [Baxter] and Rob [Hunter] gave me my opportunity and they have helped develop me into the player I am now.
“For me, I want to leave a legacy in that I helped the club to even more success. I’ve been lucky enough to win two Premierships and the Champions Cup during my time, but I want to win more things before I do leave.”
Ospreys head coach Booth said: “In our new era and on the journey we are on, it is important to show both ambition and a desire to develop our own players.
“Signing a current international tighthead prop with a winning history and mentality will help the Ospreys make the steps we need to make and fuel the ambition now and for the long term future.”
“He has won European and domestic honours and he will bring a wealth of experience and a massive set-piece capability to our squad.”