Stade confirm arrival of Aussie Ioane

AFP
Australia wing Digby Ioane runs with the ball during a match at Twickenham Stadium in London, November 17, 2012

PARIS (AFP) –

Australia wing Digby Ioane runs with the ball during a match at Twickenham Stadium in south-west London, England, on November 17, 2012. French Top 14 side Stade Francais confirmed the signing of Ioane for the next two seasons.

French Top 14 side Stade Francais confirmed the signing of Australia winger Digby Ioane for the next two seasons.

The 27-year-old Queensland Red is the second signing announced by the Parisians for next season following that of South Africa fly-half Morne Steyn from Bulls.

Ioane will join at the latest on October 21, according to Stade, meaning he will be available for Australia during the Four Nations Championship but not the Wallabies’ tour to the northern hemisphere in November.

Ioane, who won the Super 15 with the Reds in 2011, has played 34 times for Australia, scoring 11 tries. He can also play centre as well as on the wing.

Stade are looking to draw a line under a disappointing season in which they currently lie eighth ahead of the final match of the season.

They have missed out on qualification for next season’s European Cup through the league but could yet make it into the continent’s premier club competition if they beat reigning European champions Leinster in the Challenge Cup final on May 17.

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