News: Once again the future career path of Brian O'Driscoll has been thrown into focus by someone other than himself.

Following the babblings of his French agent, ChristiaJoyard, about the Irish centre's allegedly imminent move to France, Marcel Martin, president of Biarritz Olympique, has joined the growing chorus that says the Ireland and Lions captain is on his way south when his IRFU contract expires in June.

As reported in a Sunday newspaper yesterday, Martin confirmed on the club's official website that Biarritz had officially held contractual negotiations with O'Driscoll and said it was his desire to leave Ireland in 2006.

Last night O'Driscoll's father, Frank, said, "No comment," and reiterated his son had explained his case fully last week in the context of Joyard's allegations. The player also reiterated his trip to Biarritz two weeks ago, where he was introduced to the crowd at the Biarritz-Stade Francais match, was part of a holiday.

On the Biarritz website, Martin goes on to detail what preferences O'Driscoll has in terms of French clubs.

"He wants to play somewhere else other than Ireland from June 2006 and his preference is for France," said the Biarritz president. "If that is the case, he would prefer to go to Biarritz, then Toulouse and after that maybe Paris. Biarritz would be very honoured to have such a player in our ranks."

Martin admits he does not know how much O'Driscoll would demand.

"How much will his contract be worth and how long will he stay at Biarritz? When we know the answer to those two questions, we will know if Brian O'Driscoll is coming to the club or not. Right now, I don't have those answers."