Gloucester and Scotland captain Greg Laidlaw agrees to join Clermont Auvergne

Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw will leave Aviva Premiership club Gloucester at the end of this season.

Gloucester confirmed 31-year-old scrum-half Laidlaw's departure, which will come when his current contract expires.

Laidlaw, who has won 53 caps, joined Gloucester from Edinburgh in 2014. He is to continue his career in France, with French heavyweights Clermont Auvergne announcing he has signed a three-year deal.

Laidlaw told Gloucester's official website that his move had not been an easy decision to make.

""I've thoroughly enjoyed my time at Gloucester. It's a fantastic club which enjoys tremendous support," he said.

"The squad contains a great group of boys, I love playing at Kingsholm, and it's been a genuine honour to captain the side.

"Since I first moved south, I feel that my game has developed tremendously for playing in the Gloucester team in the Aviva Premiership, and it's a period of my career that I will always look back on fondly.

"However, at this stage of my career, the offer to test myself and develop my game even further in a different environment was just too good to turn down.

"It's not been an easy decision to make, but I think it's the right one. There is so much I will miss about Gloucester as a club and a place.

"However, there are still plenty of games left this season and a lot to play for, and I can guarantee that I will be giving 100 per cent commitment to the Gloucester cause to help us achieve as much as possible in my remaining time here."