STADE FRANÇAIS have confirmed the long-rumoured signing of Wallabies scrum-half Will Genia ahead of next season.
The 27-year-old will join the Top 14 club after the 2015 World Cup, having agreed to a three-year deal.
Genia, a native of Papua New Guinea, has been with the Queensland Reds since 2007, helping them to the 2011 Super Rugby title under Ewen McKenzie. He was nominated for the IRB Player of the Year award that same year and has won a total of 58 Australia caps.
The scrum-half joins compatriots Adam Ashley-Cooper and Sekope Kepu in confirming transfers out of Australia after the World Cup, with that pair both set to join Bordeaux in the Top 14.
Upon announcing the transfer on their official club website, Stade Français indicated that Genia will join current out-half Jules Plisson to form “one of the most attractive halfback pairings in the Top 14 at the end of the year.”
South African international Morné Steyn is also on the Parisian outfit’s books at present, although his time at Stade has not been as successful as hoped for. Similarly, Australian wing Digby Ioane has struggled to find his best form on a consistent basis in France.
Nonetheless, a batch of homegrown players is driving the club’s excellent season, with Stade sitting third in the league following last weekend’s 40-26 win over Clermont.
Genia can expect to be involved in the Champions Cup in his first season in France.
