SCARLETS centre Jonathan Davies is the latest international to join the player drain out of Wales after signing a two-year deal with top French side Clermont Auvergne.

The Parc y Scarlets side’s captain, 25, will join up with fellow Wales and British and Irish Lions man, full back Lee Byrne at the Top 14 outfit at the end of the season.

Davies could be out for up to five months and miss the entire Six Nations campaign with a pectoral injury sustained early in Wales’ disappointing 24-15 defeat to South Africa on the weekend.

A number of leading Welsh players are now plying their trade across the English Channel with outside-half/centre James Hook and lock Luke Charteris both at Perpignan, while centre Jamie Roberts and back row forward Dan Lydiate joined ambitious Parisian side Racing Métro this season.

Clermont narrowly lost out on lifting the Heineken Cup this season after their agonising 16-15 loss to Toulon in the final and the 37-times capped will boost their aspirations to be crowned European club champions for the first time.

The Massif Central club’s sporting director Jean-Marc Lhermet is delighted Davies, one of the stand-out players on the Lions’ successful tour of Australia in the summer, is joining them for two years with the option of a third season.

“He is one of the world's best players in his position – he will be an asset to our team,” he said. "His profile fits perfectly to the game that we practise.

"We can only be delighted to welcome Jonathan. Despite his young age, he has a huge experience of high-level matches and is one of the world's best players in his position. He will be an asset to our team.

"Jonathan decided to leave Wales for a new adventure, and we are happy that it is with the 'yellow and blue'.

"In addition to his class, he has determination to help us win new titles in the years to come."