Wallabies’ Hodge en route to the French club after the World Cup

Wallabies utility Reece Hodge will leave Australian rugby after the World Cup to join French top-14 club Bayonne on a three-year deal.

Making his debut with the Melbourne Rebels in 2016, Hodge made 62 Tests for Australia and has spent time in almost every backline position.

He played in all the Rugby Championship games except one last year and started in the last game of the absent manager Dave Rennie at inside center against Wales.

Given his versatility, Hodge is expected to play a role in Australia’s World Cup campaign later this year in France under new coach Eddie Jones.

Bayonne club president Philippe Tayeb said Hodge, 28, was a world-class player.

“He comes to expand our squad,” Tayeb told French TV channel Canal+.

“He is a world-class player and comes mainly because of his versatility and to support and encourage our project and the young people of our club.”

His former Rebels teammate Michael Ruru is also at the French club.