England's Palmer joins Bordeaux

Bordeaux - England international lock Tom Palmer has agreed to join Top 14 side Bordeaux-Begles as injury cover for Johan Aliouat until the end of the season, the French club said.

The 37-year-old Palmer, capped 42 times by England, knows the French championship well having played for Stade Francais from 2009 to 2012.

He also previously played for Leeds and alongside Bordeaux manager Raphael Ibanez and defensive coach Joe Worsley at Wasps, followed by a season at Gloucester from 2014 and Treviso in Italy last season.

Aliouat ruptured a cruciate ligament in his knee playing Top 14 against Clermont and has been ruled out for nine months.