Luke Charteris considers 'options' to join French clubs

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Page last updated at 13:50 GMT, Monday, 5 December 2011

Luke Charteris Luke Charteris has been a Dragon since 2003

Wales and Newport Gwent Dragons lock Luke Charteris is being targeted by some of France's biggest clubs, according to his agent.

The 28-year-old's contract with the Dragons is up at the end of the season and his agent, Christian Abt, insists he could remain at Rodney Parade.

But Abt added: "Luke is looking at his options and has been approached by a number of French clubs."

James Hook's club Perpignan have been strongly linked with Charteris.

The news emerges two weeks after Dragons coach Darren Edwards said he hoped the lock would reject a move to France.

Edwards said he believed the lure of trying to win a place in the 2013 British and Lions squad to tour Australia would convince Charteris to stay in Wales.

"Now that he's put his marker down in Wales he'll make his decision on where he thinks he can achieve that goal and hopefully he sees that being from here," said Edwards.

LUKE CHARTERIS

  • Date of birth: 9/3/1983
  • Born: Camborne, Cornwall
  • Height: 206cm / 6'ft 9"in
  • Weight: 129kg / 20st 4lbs
  • Caps: 32
  • Clubs: Llanelli (2001-03), Newport Gwent Dragons (2003-)

*Correct as of 5 December

Toulon and Australian giants New South Wales Waratahs and Melbourne Rebels are also reported to have shown an interest in the player.

A report in the local French newspaper L'Independent claims the Wales World Cup star is set for a three-year deal playing alongside Hook.

If the move takes place, Charteris would become the fourth high-profile Welsh player to be plying his trade in France.

Hook, full-back Lee Byrne (Clermont Auvergne) and scrum-half Mike Phillips (Bayonne) joined up with their new teams following the World Cup.

But their moves were followed by a warning from Wales coach Warren Gatland that Six Nations selection could prove difficult for some players based outside Wales.

Hook, Byrne and Phillips joined prop Craig Mitchell (Exeter) and Sale's duo Andy Powell in being omitted from the squad that lost to Australia at the weekend.

Charteris is already deemed a non-starter for the 2012 Six Nations after undergoing surgery on a wrist damaged at the World Cup in which Wales finished fourth.

The 6ft 9in lock suffered the injury during Wales' bronze medal play-off defeat by Australia in New Zealand.

Charteris joined the Dragons from Llanelli RFC at their inception in 2003 and was named captain ahead of this season.

But because of Wales duties at the World Cup and the injury, he has yet to appear from them this term.

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