Castres deal lures Fitzpatrick from Ulster

IRELAND prop Justin Fitzpatrick is leaving Ulster to join French side Castres.

Fitzpatrick is leaving the province with whom he won a European Cup medal with back in 1999, for an much-improved financial package with the French side for whom his Ulster colleague Jeremy Davidson played for several seasons.

The 29-year-old Essex-born loose-head moved from London Irish to Ulster back in 1998 and has been a massive influence since - failing to start in just three games.