Former Scotland captain Stuart Hogg has signed for Montpellier, according to comments made by the club's president to the French media.
Confirmation of the recruitment of the three-times British and Irish Lion appears to have been given by Mohed Altrad, the man at the helm of the Top 14, who narrowly avoided relegation by winning a play-off at the weekend.
Altrad announced that Bernard Laporte, the ex-France head coach, would remain as director of rugby, and said: “He has a very clear role, he keeps it. He’s not here to coach, he doesn’t want to. He is there to bring his considerable experience.
“He has connections for recruitment, he was quite valuable at that level, for example in recruiting Stuart Hogg.
"He will continue to bring his vision of the game, he discusses with the staff on the playing system, the choice of teams, strategy, tactics, etc. There may be friction in a group, but he has the last word. Bernard Laporte is the boss. And it is there for the medium to long term.”
Altrad was then asked how long the former Scotland captain had signed on for at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir.
“I think it’s three years. Two years plus one it seems to me,” he replied.
After naming his Scotland squad for the summer tour last week, Gregor Townsend was asked about a potential return to the elite game for his former captain.
He said: "If he does [return to playing], we wish him all the best. He was obviously a fantastic rugby player, someone who was in our World Cup training squad before he reached the decision he was going to retire, so if he does come back we wish him all the best."
It is less than a year since Hogg quit Scotland's Rugby World Cup training camp and retired from the game, bringing forward his decision to hang up his boots at the end of the tournament in France.
At the time, the 100-cap Scotland international said he was no longer capable of coping with the demands of professional rugby.
Hogg has experienced a turbulent year since announcing his retirement from playing. In April, he revealed he's spent time in a rehabilitation centre.
READ MORE: 'I was lost' - Scotland hero Stuart Hogg reveals rehab stint
He appeared in court last month charged with acting in an abusive manner towards his estranged wife, having been arrested outside a house in Hawick in February.
Hogg pleaded not guilty and was ordered to stay away from her ahead of a trial beginning at the end of July.
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