James Hook se va a Perpignan, pero continuará jugando con Gales

JAMES HOOK has underlined his “huge aspirations” to continue playing for Wales after securing a reputed £1m deal with French club Perpignan.

Hook is set to make his Perpignan debut after the World Cup in New Zealand later this year, having agreed terms until 2014.

His three-year contract, which officially starts in July, includes release for all pre-World Cup training with Wales, plus tournament warm-up Tests during August against England (twice) and Argentina.

The 25-year-old will also be available for all matches covered by the International Rugby Board Test windows, although anything outside of that would require Perpignan’s approval.

Hook’s agent, former Wales lock Derwyn Jones, said: “There aren’t clauses in the contracts where you have, say, that extra game (Test match) in the autumn. It is down to the goodwill of the club, down to the relationship of the club and the player.

“We have had assurances that James will be available for all international matches. He will join up with Perpignan after the World Cup.

“There are no certainties. It is the same for James Hook, Jonny Wilkinson and every player playing in France.

“When you are making a move like this, you can’t base a decision on that you will be playing for Wales in two or three years’ time or the availability for one (extra) international a season.”

Hook, a high-class operator at fly-half, centre or full-back, is poised to win his 48th cap in next week’s Six Nations opener against England.

And he revealed he had spoken with Wales coach Warren Gatland and national team backs coach Rob Howley about his desire to play in France.

“I still have huge aspirations to play for Wales, and I want to be involved in as many games as I can,” said Hook, who announced his Perpignan move at a press conference in the picturesque village of Portmeirion in Gwynedd.

“I have spoken to Warren and expressed my desire to go over there, and in fairness he has been great and said he is not going to hold me back.

“Ultimately, it was my decision, but Warren and Rob have been great, and the Ospreys coaches have also given me support after I announced my decision to leave.

“The last few months I have known in my head I was going. It is a huge decision. It is not just me involved, it is my fiancee Kim and my little boy Harrison. Obviously, it is a rugby decision as well, but the positives far outweigh the negatives.”

Perpignan, Heineken Cup quarter-finalists this term, are set to make Hook possibly the highest-paid player in Welsh rugby history, with his deal expected to exceed £1m over three years when he moves from the Ospreys.

Jones added that Hook, a member of the 2009 British and Irish Lions squad in South Africa, had been considering his options for the past 12 months.

He said: “Perpignan approached the Ospreys last season and offered to buy him out of his contract. The Ospreys quite sensibly said they wanted to keep it.

“We have spent time going to France to see clubs. Perpignan is a wonderful location – the weather is great, the rugby is fantastic, they have great support.

“And you look at the track record of players like Stephen Jones and Gareth Thomas (ex-Toulouse) who have gone to France and done exceptionally well and possibly come back better players.

“I am not saying there is going to be an exodus of players to France, but certainly now and again it can benefit a player’s career, and hopefully it will be a great experience for James.

“He is young, he has a young family and if there is a time to do it, it is probably now.”

As for which position Hook might fill at Stade Aime Giral, the player added: “I am just going to go out there, try to express myself and see what the coach thinks.

“Everyone knows 10 is my preferred position – I have really enjoyed having game-time there in the last couple of weeks for the Ospreys.”