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Smith heads to Montpellier

Friday 16th May 2008

Ollie Smith: Heading south to France

Leicester and England centre Ollie Smith will join Top 14 club Montpellier next season, according to the Leicester Mercury.

The 25-year-old, who has been subject of transfer speculation for some time, has scored 38 tries for the Tigers in 180 appearances over his eight-year tenure at the club.

Smith, who has also found a first-team spot hard to come by this season and has struggled with a chest injury, cited the need for a 'new challenge' as his reason for leaving.

"I needed a new challenge and I needed to get away from Leicester," said the England and Lions star.

"I supported this club as a boy, have enjoyed my time here and made many great friends.

"I have been lucky enough to play with the likes of Martin Johnson, Neil Back and Richard Cockerill - all legends at this club. But now is the right time to leave. Montpellier is a bit different from Leicester, that's for sure. They have a brand new stadium and their training facilities are as good as Tigers.

"They have got a lot of money and are trying to spend it wisely to keep building the club. They have good young players like Louis Picamoles (flanker) and Francois Trinh-Duc (fly-half), and have a great junior set-up along with a women's team and a veterans team. It's a real family club - a bit like joining the Vipers or Leicester Forest - only their first team is in the Top 14.

"Montpellier has a big infrastructure with a lot of investment having gone into it. There's a big student population. It is very vibrant, hip and trendy, and I will be living and training by the beach.

"It will obviously be a big culture shock having lived in Leicester for so long, but I have been to France on holiday and have really enjoyed it.

"After eight years as a player at Leicester, I am just after something completely different. I was always going to leave at the end of this season and I needed a complete change.

"I thought about going to Gloucester but that would have been too similar. I am looking forward to learning a new language, a new culture and getting used to a new way of life."