Former Scotland captain Jason White believes he has joined a club capable of winning the European Cup next season.
White left English Premiership outfit Sale Sharks this summer to move to France and play for star-studded Clermont Auvergne.
Clermont boast a number of France Test stars in Benoit Baby, Julien Bonnaire, Pierre Mignoni and captain Aurelien Rougerie as well as internationals Gonzalo Canale of Italy and Argentinian duo Mario Ledesma and Martin Scelzo.
They have been drawn in the same pool for the group stages of next season’s European Cup as 2008 runners-up Leicester Tigers, Welsh side the Ospreys and Viadana from Italy.
That means White will face his fellow Scotland cap Nikki Walker who, like White, hails from Aberdeen when his new club meet the Ospreys in what is one of the toughest groups.
But White is confident Clermont can progress to the knock-out stage and compete for the biggest prize in European rugby.
He said: “I have been very impressed by the organisation of the team and the club’s ambitions.
“Clermont is one of the best European clubs and I think than there are real possibilities to win the biggest titles here.
“I have always wanted to play in France and the chance to discover a new culture and a new language is very exciting.”
