St Helens wing Regan Grace signs for French Top 14 club Racing 92

The 25-year-old, who joined Saints from South Wales Scorpions under 16s, turned down the contract extension offered by the club.

It means Grace, whose dazzling displays on the flank have long seen him coveted by Welsh rugby union, will switch codes at the end of the current Super League season.

A strong season with Racing 92 next year could see him earn a call-up to the Wales national squad for the 2023 World Cup in France.

His departure will be greeted with disappointment all round - Grace is a popular box-office player, a crowd pleaser and a proven match winner. 

In announcing his decision Grace thanked those at the club and beyond, who have helped him since he moved north as a teenage.

Grace said: “I want to thank everyone at St Helens, especially Eamonn McManus, Mike Rush as well as Academy Head Coach Derek Traynor for bringing me up here and taking a risk on a young kid from Wales.

"It was a big move for me and I have loved every minute of being here.

“All the years being here, the Club and coaches have looked after me well and have given me my chances.

"Thanks also to all of my teammates who I have had the privilege of playing with.

“And of course, I want to thank all the St Helens fans, in particular the Imperial Exiles who sponsored me and looked after me when I first came over.

"Thanks also to the Donnelly’s and my partners family too who have all played their part and help me feel at home.

“The town has been a big part of my life. I have spent my entire adult life here and it has become my home.

"It was such a hard decision to leave because of those emotions, but I want to go and test myself and experience a new challenge.

“To win three Super League titles and a Challenge Cup has been a dream come true and my full focus is now ensuring we win a fourth title at the end of the year.”

Grace had a spectacular rise at Saints after impressing in the Academy - where he was part of the team that went unbeaten through the 2016 Championship season - culminating in a Grand Final win over Wigan.

The following year he made a try-scoring senior debut in the Good Friday game against Wigan in 2017 - with his dazzling footwork causing endless problems fo the defence.

He has so far made 138 appearances for Saints, crossing 86 times - with some of those more crucial than others.

Chairman Eamonn McManus added: “Regan has been an exciting and important contributor to the major successes of the Saints in recent years.

“We clearly very much wanted him to stay at the Saints and in Super League in the years ahead.

“However, we fully accept and respect his decision to pursue a new career, life and lifestyle in France and wish him and his family every happiness and success.”

Racing 92 play on the western suburbs of Paris in the swish 30,000-capacity Paris La Défense Arena.

Racing 92, who finished sixth in the Top 14 this season, have already shown their ambition for next term by signing France international flanker Cameron Woki, Springbok World Cup-winning full back Warrick Gelant and Fijian centre or wing Asaeli Tuivuaka.