Wales World Cup international Tyler Morgan will officially begin his new life in France on Friday night when he runs out for new club Biarritz.
The 26-year-old centre lines up at No. 13 for the relegated Top 14 side when they take on Vannes in France's second division, the PROD2. They will be hoping to continue their winning ways after a positive start to their campaign against Oyonnax last week.
The former Dragons and Scarlets midfielder, who was one of nine players to be released from Dwayne Peel's set-up in May, slots into life on France's Basque coast having represented Team Wales in Sevens at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games earlier this summer while an unattached player.
Capped five times at Test level by Warren Gatland after making his debut in 2015, the same year he started at outside centre alongside Jamie Roberts in the Twickenham World Cup quarter-final against South Africa, Morgan has headed abroad for rugby having been involved in Welsh rugby for all of his senior playing career. He spent seven seasons at the Dragons from 2013/14 when he had 89 outings and then switched to the Scarlets in 2020, where he made 19 appearances.
Hoping to banish injury woes and illness for good, Caerleon product Morgan is now tasked with playing as pivotal a role as possible in Biarritz's challenge for promotion back into the top tier of French domestic rugby following the departures of numerous big-name players, including former All Blacks midfielder Francis Saili, ex-Wallabies pick Tevita Kuridrani and Brieuc Plessis-Couillaud.
Having signed a one-year deal with Biarritz, he is relishing a new challenge.
"I have always wanted to play abroad but wanted to give playing for Wales another shot," Morgan, who has been reunited with former Dragons coaches Barry Maddocks and Alan Kingsley, told the South Wales Argus.
"I have taken myself out of my comfort zone with a new challenge. I jumped at the chance, I have come over with an open mind and I just want to enjoy it.
"I just want to play because I was fit all year for the Scarlets but just never got selected.
"The Commonwealth Games was a fun few months and a real test, then I came here and it is nice to feel wanted and part of the team straight away.
"We will see where it goes. Wales is still home but I am lucky enough to have a career like this where you can explore different places, and the scenery here in Biarritz is amazing.
"It's an opportunity to get out of the Welsh bubble, have new experiences and play in different rugby."
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