Picamoles reportedly signs with Montpellier

Montpellier owner Mohed Altrad has revealed that Northampton back-row Louis Picamoles signed a pre-contract agreement to rejoin the Top 14 club.

Picamoles started his professional career at Montpellier in 2004 before moving to Toulouse in 2009 and then joined the Saints on a three-year deal last year.

But Altrad said the 31-year-old will join Montpellier after France’s tour to South Africa in June.

"We have signed what we call a pre-contract so Louis Picamoles should join us after France's summer tour," Altrad told Le10Sport.

"It's important for the national team to see France players play in the Top 14." 

If Picamoles returns to Montpellier, his departure will not be a smooth one as Northampton Saints boss Jim Mallinder insisted earlier this month that the France number eight's contract had no get-out clause.

"Louis Picamoles is like all players who are not leaving," Mallinder told the Northampton Chronicle and Echo.

"He signed a contract, a three-year contract, he's just done the first year of it and he's got no get-out clause. There's no reason why Louis should be anywhere else.

"I don't think we've ever been a selling club.

"We've always wanted to go into the market and bring good players here to Northampton. I'm sure that's the way we'll be. We want to keep all of our good players at Northampton Saints."