Former Ulster and Ireland centre Stuart Olding has signed a two-year contract with Brive in the French second division. Brive are managed by former Ulster and Ireland lock Jeremy Davidson who was announced as their coach earlier this month.
The 25-year-old has been on the lookout for a new club after Ulster Rugby and the IRFU terminated his and Paddy Jackson's contracts following their acquittal on rape charges back in March.
Vous les attendiez, voici les deux premières recrues du CA Brive pour la saison 2018 / 2019 !
?️?#WEARECAB
? https://t.co/EWrptwn1Yn pic.twitter.com/WCrakFXwyp— CABCLRUGBY (@CABCLRUGBY) May 28, 2018
Olding had been linked with Sale Sharks and Exeter Chiefs but both clubs removed themselves from the running for the the centre.
Brive were relegated to PRO D2 after finishing bottom of the Top 14 this season having lost 18 of the 26 games they played. Davidson had been the forwards coach at Top 14 side Bordeaux-Bègles last season but has been confirmed as Brive's new head coach, and the 44-year-old called the club one of the biggest in the country following his appointment:
I am very proud to join the CAB.
My motivation is flawless. I can not wait to rebuild and move on with Brive, who is a team with a big heart for me. The club is one of the largest in this country.
