Scrum-half and Pro D2 player of the year in 2023/2024, Samuel Marques, is expected to leave AS Béziers Hérault (ASBH) at the end of the season to join an ambitious outfit in the championship, according to information from Midi-Olympique.

Aged 36, the Portugal international, a key part of ASBH, is coming to the end of his contract. Despite his age, Marques continues to produce an exceptional level of performance, being joint top try scorer (6) and leading points scorer in Pro D2 after seven rounds.

The hottest lead would take him to Provence Rugby. The Aix club, whose project is led by Philippe Saint-André, are said to be very interested in Samuel Marques’ experienced profile to replace Arthur Coville, expected at Vannes. The player is understood to have recently visited the Provence facilities. For Béziers, who would lose a major player and an outstanding goal-kicker who contributed a great deal to taking the club back to the play-offs, it would be a sizeable challenge to take on for the 2026/2027 season without one of their best men in recent years.