Heineken Cup finalists Biarritz have failed in their bid to sign Australia rugby league scrum-half Johnathan Thurston from North Queensland Cowboys.
The 27-year-old had been weighing up a lucrative offer to switch codes and head to the Top 14.
But the 16-Test veteran has turned down the deal to remain at the Cowboys for a further three seasons.
Thurston said: "I just wanted to obviously see my value in union and overseas.
"All the advice that I've been given from my parents and my manager and close friends' advice has been just stay in league, and I'm very happy.
"This contract I wanted to set me up for life after footy and we've got a couple of things in place now that will certainly do that for me, and I'm just happy to re-sign with the club. It's a great club."
