Cape Town - Double Currie Cup-winning Western Province flyhalf, Demetri Catrakilis, has been granted an early release from his contract to join French Top 14 club, Montpellier.
The 26-year-old thus played his final match for WP last Saturday when he came off the bench in the 50-19 win over the Pumas at Newlands.
“Demetri has always been the ultimate professional and he goes to France with our blessing,” Director of Rugby Gert Smal told the WP Rugby website.
“All of us at WP Rugby would like to wish him well for his future, but he will always remain a Province man in our eyes!”
Catrakilis made his WP debut in 2011, playing a total of 58 provincial matches in the blue and white hoops and scoring 666 points in the process.
He also played 24 Super Rugby games for the Stormers, scoring 211 points.
Catrakilis, who booted UCT to the 2011 Varsity Cup title in 2011, will best be remembered in Cape Town for his heroics in the 2012 Currie Cup final when his two drop-goals - one off each foot - helped WP to a memorable triumph against the Sharks in Durban, ending an 11-year title drought for the Capetonians.
Montpellier have a number of South African players on their books and are coached by former Springbok coach Jake White.