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Welsh Rugby
Charteris confirms Perpignan switch
ESPN Staff
May 10, 2012
Wales lock Luke Charteris challenges Imanol Harinordoquy for a lineout, Wales v France, Rugby World Cup semi-final, Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand, October 15, 2011
Luke Charteris in action during the World Cup © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Luke Charteris | Alex Cuthbert
Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership | Top 14 Orange

Wales second-row Luke Charteris has confirmed his widely anticipated move to Perpignan.

Dragons lock Charteris was linked with a move to the Top 14 soon after the end of the 2011 World Cup and it has taken roughly six months for him to officially announce that he will be linking up with James Hook at Perpignan next term.

Charteris has signed a three-year deal to switch to the Catalan side and he is looking forward to playing in the same side as Wales team-mate Hook.

"James spoke to me a lot about the club, the spirit of the squad but also the passionate nature of the supporters and the charming way of life here," Charteris said. "Perpignan is an ambitious club, it is for me an occasion to discover a new championship, certainly the best in the world, a new style of play, and a team very committed to being combative.

"More and more Welsh players are attracted by the challenge of the Top 14. The quality of the championship and the talent of the squads weigh heavily on their choice."

One other man who may be joining him in the Top 14 is Alex Cuthbert. Similar to Charteris, the issue of Cuthbert's future is quick becoming a saga with the Blues now seemingly losing their patience. Their CEO Richard Holland is adamant that they will not be held to ransom over Cuthbert and has claimed that they have made him a good offer.

"We put an offer on the table to Alex about a month ago," Holland told Wales Online. "It involved a significant increase on his current salary. It's a fantastic offer in my mind. Something seems to be stopping him from making a decision. I can only assume he has had offers from France.

"We had an approach from his agent last week to ask for additional money. But what we have put on the table is our upper limit. The offer is the offer. We have no more money to spend.

"We are at the top of our salary cap. We have put a value on him and we feel what we have put on the table is a more than fair offer."

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