AURELIEN ROUGERIE IS to extend his Clermont Auvergne career into a 19th season after signing a one-year contract extension.
The 36-year-old former France centre has agreed a new deal with the Top 14 title contenders until June 2018.
Rougerie has spent his entire professional career with Clermont and the veteran stalwart is not ready to hang up his boots just yet.
Franck Azema has made no secret of his desire to keep Rougerie, capped 76 times by Les Bleus, and the Clermont sporting director has now got his wish.
Rougerie captained the Clermont side which won their only French title in 2010 and will be hoping further honours come in the final stages of his long career.