Pat Howard Signs For Asm Montferrand

The 29 year old Wallaby, who won twenty caps for his country between 1993 and 1997, knows what it's like to taste European success having lifted the Heineken Cup with Leicester Tigers in 2001. He will join up with his former Leicester team-mate Richard Cockerill and is one of a long list of players including the likes of Dan Luger (NEC Harlequins), Daniel Herbert (Queensland Reds) and Mick O'Driscoll (Munster) who have decided to make the switch to French rugby this summer.

Howard, who plays most of his rugby in the centre, will be looking to strike up a good relationship with fellow anglophone Tony Marsh. He is also an accomplished outhalf and will provide good cover for Montferrand's international number 10 Gérald Merceron.

Montferrand, like many other top French sides, have recruited heavily recently having already signed Gloucester's Olivier Azam and Ed Pearce along with Bézier's Pierre Mignoni and Hottie Louw from South African side The Stormers.

With the signing of Howard and co. Montferrand will be looking to improve on last season when they failed to progress from the group stages of the Heineken Cup and missed out on the French Championship play-offs. As ever they will provide very stern opposition for all visitors to their home patch and will start as one of the favourites for the European Challenge Cup when they take on Leonessa (Italia). The tournament kicks-off on 5th December.