Carl Fearns, who is leaving Newcastle this summer, is set to return to France for the third time after previous spells with Lyon and Rouen.

The former England Saxons back-row, 34 on Sunday, was made an offer to join Chinnor, who finished in eighth place in the National League one table this season but has said no.

Instead, he has accepted an offer to play for an unnamed team in the third tier of French rugby, the Federale 1.

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