Wales and British and Irish Lions loosehead prop Gethin Jenkins has confirmed he will leave Cardiff Blues next season to take up a contract with French club Toulon.

The 31-year-old who is a veteran of 89 Test matches is poised to follow in the footsteps of several international teammates by playing in France where he will link up with the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Matt Giteau and Bakkies Botha at Toulon.

Jenkins is the latest in a growing line of Welsh stars to head to France, following Mike Phillips, James Hook and Lee Byrne. World Cup squad member Aled Brew also recently agreed a move to Biarritz while Perpignan are reportedly targeting lock Luke Charteris.

"I definitely will not be with the Blues next season, and yes, I am going to France," Jenkins told the Western Mail."I was offered a deal by the Blues, but that was after talks were put off about an extension on several occasions.

"In the end, they said they couldn't pay me while I was fulfilling international commitments, and so I felt I had no choice. I had to think about my future, just like any player or anyone in any walk of life would do.

"I won't leave with any bitterness and I will give the Blues everything between now and the end of this season, just the same as I have always done. But after that, it will be time for me to have a fresh start and a new challenge," he added.

AFP