Ex-England prop Williams joins Pau

Former England prop Harry Williams has joined Pau as injury cover for Tonga's Siate Tokolahi, the French Top 14 club announced on Friday.

Williams, 32, won the last of his 19 test caps in 2021 and left another French outfit Montpellier last month after just one campaign.

Tokolahi, also 32, suffered a serious Achilles injury in the final game of last season and is expected to be sidelined until next year.

Williams is ineligible to play for England as he plays club rugby abroad and will join fellow Englishmen in lock Joel Kpoku, scrum-half Dan Robson and fly-half Joe Simmonds at Pau.

A host of other former England internationals are arriving at French clubs for the coming season including former captain Owen Farrell at Racing 92 and Bayonne-bound centre Manu Tuilagi.

Pau begin their new Top 14 season at Clermont on September 7.