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Durban - Pat Lambie acknowledges that struggles with injury over the past few years contributed to his decision to relocate to France.
The 26-year-old Springbok has been released from his Sharks and SA Rugby contracts and he will be joining French outfit Racing 92 from November 1.
It is a big loss to the Sharks, but Lambie has been struggling with injuries for the past three Super Rugby seasons and, with his recent run of head knocks and concussions, there had been suggestions that his career could be over.
Instead, the 56-Test Bok is looking for a fresh start.
"When I was going through this whole debacle of another injury and if I was going to play again, and where, the decision was to go and experience something new in a different country to try and break the cycle," Lambie told Durban's East Coast Radio on Wednesday.
"It's been a tough couple of years from an injury point of view. I've by no means been unhappy in South Africa at the Sharks and the Springboks."
Lambie, who is still available for the Springboks, added that he was not worried about sustaining further head injuries in what is known as a physical French league.
"I think my injuries have just been freak accidents," said Lambie.
"It hasn't had anything to do with the physicality of the competitions that I've been playing in.
"Rugby is a contact sport and you run the risk of injury as soon as you step onto the field. The biggest thing for me was the mental break from it ... a fresh start in a completely new jersey in a new continent to break the cycle, put the past in the past and move on from injuries I've had."
