News
Smith heads to Montpellier
May 16 2008
Leicester and England centre Ollie Smith will join Top 14 club Montpellier next season, according to the Leicester Mercury.
The 25-year-old, who has been subject of transfer speculation for some time, has scored 38 tries for the Tigers in 180 appearances over his eight-year tenure at the club.
Smith, who has also found a first-team spot hard to come by this season and has struggled with a chest injury, cited the need for a 'new challenge' as his reason for leaving.
"I needed a new challenge and I needed to get away from Leicester," said the England and Lions star.
"I supported this club as a boy, have enjoyed my time here and made many great friends.
"I have been lucky enough to play with the likes of Martin Johnson, Neil Back and Richard Cockerill - all legends at this club. But now is the right time to leave. Montpellier is a bit different from Leicester, that's for sure. They have a brand new stadium and their training facilities are as good as Tigers.
"They have got a lot of money and are trying to spend it wisely to keep building the club. They have good young players like Louis Picamoles (flanker) and Francois Trinh-Duc (fly-half), and have a great junior set-up along with a women's team and a veterans team. It's a real family club - a bit like joining the Vipers or Leicester Forest - only their first team is in the Top 14.
"Montpellier has a big infrastructure with a lot of investment having gone into it. There's a big student population. It is very vibrant, hip and trendy, and I will be living and training by the beach.
"It will obviously be a big culture shock having lived in Leicester for so long, but I have been to France on holiday and have really enjoyed it.
"After eight years as a player at Leicester, I am just after something completely different. I was always going to leave at the end of this season and I needed a complete change.
"I thought about going to Gloucester but that would have been too similar. I am looking forward to learning a new language, a new culture and getting used to a new way of life."