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Ireland prop Linda Djougang is set to move to Clermont, the IRFU has confirmed.
Djougang will join French champions ASM Romagnat Rugby - an affiliate of Top 14 side Clermont Avergne - in a deal which has been brokered by the IRFU.
25-year-old Djougang, who has 12 caps to her name, is a fluent French speaker and will make the switch after this September’s qualifying competition for the Rugby World Cup.
On her move, she said: “I am determined to be the best player I can be and working with the coaches at ASM Romagnat and being in their environment will help accelerate my development.
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“Playing in the French league week in week out will be incredible and I am really looking forward to committing everything to this opportunity. David (Nucifora) and Anthony have put in a lot of work to make sure this move would be a good fit for me.”
Meanwhile IRFU director of women's and Sevens rugby Anthony Eddy said: "This is a really positive move for Linda as she will be able to train full-time in a professional environment and test herself regularly against some of the best players in the world.
“We have established a strong connection with the coaches in ASM Romagnat which will allow us to collaborate on Linda’s ongoing development. Linda will remain available for all Ireland camps and matches.”
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