Ospreys coach 'not surprised' by Adam Beard story but isn't privy to discussions

The Morriston RFC product has earned 56 Wales caps, so he'll remain eligible to represent his country if he moved abroad.

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth is "not surprised" that Adam Beard is being linked with a move to France.

Beard's contract is up at the end of the 2024/2025 season, and it has been reported in France that the 6ft 8in second row has been offered a deal by Top 14 outfit Montpellier. The likes of Stuart Hogg and Billy Vunipola are currently on the books there.

Asked about the speculation, Booth says it's no shock that Beard is being considered by an elite club. "Everyone knows that Adam Beard is an absolute quality operator and has been influential for me and my time here," he said.

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"He's a brilliant leader, a brilliant line-out forward who prepares the team, so I’m not surprised he generates interest. The challenge is always to try and keep your best players."

Booth assured fans that talks are on-going to keep Beard at the Swansea-based region. "He's part of the fixture and fittings around here, for sure," explained Booth.

"I know conversations are going on our side, I’m not privy to them. It’s beyond my tenure here. I know we are very keen to keep him around and I’m not envisaging that changing too much."

After being a key member for the Wales under-20 Grand Slam side in 2016, Beard earned his first appearance for Wales in 2017 against Samoa, before grabbing his first start against Georgia five months later.

With many Wales Test veterans hanging up their boots in recent times, Beard is one of the more experienced player's in Warren Gatland's side, and is certainly a man the Wales boss will want to have at his disposal in the coming years. At just 28, he'll likely be a permanent fixture going into the 2027 World Cup.

It'll be handy for Gatland, then, that Beard won't be ruled out of international selection if he chose to make the move, having well over the 25-cap requirement. The former Aberavon lock has played his entire professional career at Ospreys since making his debut 10 years ago, but things could be changing.