'An incredible opportunity' - France prop Slimani does retirement U-turn to join Leinster

Rabah Slimani of ASM Clermont Auvergne celebrates with supporters after the Heineken Challenge Cup Final match between ASM Clermont Auvergne and La Rochelle at St James' Park in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

France tighthead prop Rabah Slimani will join Leinster ahead of the 2024/25 season according to Clermont head coach Christophe Urios. 

Slimani had been set to retire and join the Clermont staff as a coach. However, Urios said Leinster's offer was too good for the player to turn down. 

"Last season, Rabah signed a coaching contract with us,” Urios told French publication La Montagne.

"Then, he told us of his desire to play again, but we couldn't match the two years offered to him by Leinster.

"There you go, we now have to break this contract between us and we won't hold it back. I told him that it was an incredible opportunity for him to go and play there."

Slimani will replace Michael Ala’alatoa in the Leinster squad. The Samoan, who joined Leinster in 2021, is moving to Clermont. 

The player confirmed to La Montagne that he has passed a medical with Leinster and is waiting for the deal to be made official. 

The 34-year-old was capped 57 times by France, the last of those being at the 2019 World Cup. 

Slimani will join South African second row RG Snyman along with All Black star Jordie Barrett at Leinster next season. Barrett is set to join Leinster in December on a six-month deal.