Bristol Bears have confirmed rising centre star Antoine Frisch will join Munster Rugby for the 2022/23 campaign.
Frisch has made 12 appearances for Bears so far since joining the Premiership sode at the beginning of the season from French PRO D2 side Rouen Normandie..
Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam took a gamble on relative unknown Frisch, who is English qualified through his mother but grew up in France, handing him a one-year contract at the West Country side, but the gamble has paid off almost too well with his form attracting offers the Bears have been unwilling to match.
Since the turn of the year Frisch has established himself as a key player in the Bears' backline and has increasingly looked to be the answer to the club's search for a successor to former Tonga captain Siale Piutau in the number 12 jersey. Piutau left the Bears in the summer for Japan.
However, following interest from French Top 14 side Montpellier and Stade Francais, 25-year-old Frisch has signed a three-year deal with Munster and the IRFU as he is Irish-qualified through his maternal grandmother who hails from Dublin.
READ MORE: Bristol Bears star Semi Radradra to have second knee surgery Pat Lam confirms
Munster, who will be led by Graham Rowntree next season, are in need of a replacement for South African World Cup winner Damian De Allende who leaving in the summer
From the outside looking in, 6ft 3in, 99kg Frisch appears to another player the Bears have been unable to find room for in their £5m salary cap, with the might of IRFU paying some of the centres' wage for the next three years.
Lam said: “When Antoine joined us from the Pro D2, it’s fair to say he had a lot of room to learn and develop his game. He's worked hard and has shown real promise in his performances particularly in the second half of the season.
"Because he is Irish qualified, that's attracted the interest of the Irish Rugby Union and we are pleased he's been offered a good opportunity with Munster to chase his International dream.
"We thank Antoine for his contribution to the club and wish him the very best for the next chapter in Ireland."
