91Èȱ¬

Leicester Tigers' Wessel Jooste is in talks with French side Castres about a loan move until the end of the season.

The South African back-row forward, 29, has struggled with injuries since moving to Welford Road in September, and has not played for the first team.

Director of rugby Richard Cockerill said a loan move made sense.

"There isn't much much opportunity for him to play and there was a very good opportunity to go to Castres and play," Cockerill told 91Èȱ¬ Radio Leicester.

"Where that leaves us moving forward long term we will have to see.

"We may or may not have been in the position to offer him a contract for next season so the right thing to do from his end was to give him the opportunity to go and play and get himself a contract for the foreseeable future.

"That's how it works out sometimes. He's a good guy we have managed him pretty well and I didn't think it was the right to keep him here just in case. I could have, but you have to look at the bigger picture and look after the player's welfare.

Cockerill added: "The whole thing has been a little bit unfortunate for him from start to finish. He was injured, then had a nasty nerve injury and now he is fit enough to play he has the opportunity to go to Castres and play because they have have some injury issues."