Martyn Williams has been offered the chance to join Perpignan and become the latest Wales star to defect to France.

The crack Catalan outfit have approached the Cardiff Blues star to ask him to join them for the start of next season - and the Echo understands Williams is seriously considering it.

If he goes, he would follow in the footsteps of Gareth Thomas and Stephen Jones who both crossed the English Channel two seasons ago to join Toulouse and Clermont-Auvergne respectively.

Jones is returning to Llanelli Scarlets this summer, but Williams could move the other way if he decides he wants to take up what is a once-in-a-career opportunity with one of the strongest teams in Europe.

He will need the Blues to sanction the move because he is under contract to them for next season.

If he were to go, it would be a huge blow to the playing strength of the region and to director of rugby Dai Young, who is currently considering his own future with the region because of a lack of control over rugby matters.

It would also dwarf all the other departures from the Blues ranks in terms of significance.

Williams has been at the Arms Park since joining the old Cardiff club from Pontypridd in June 1999.

But in seven years he has won no silverware despite his own consistent excellence in that period.

Williams has been a loyal servant and is a former captain of the Blues and Cardiff.

Yet he knows this is his last chance to sample something different in his career.

And like everyone involved with the Blues, he is concerned at the prospect of the squad being downsized this summer.

'If the Blues' future looked a bit more stable I think Martyn wouldn't want to go,' said a source close to Williams.

'But with the way things are looking in terms of squad cuts, who can blame him for being tempted by the chance to go to such a powerful French club and experience an adventure like that?'

Reports Delme Parfitt, South Wales Echo