The 22-year-old will continue his overseas ­adventures with French third division club SA XV Charente as soon as his paperwork has been sorted.

The move follows a stint in New Zealand with the Silverdale Sea Hawks earlier this year but the difference for Howell this time will be the language barrier.

“My French makes my Swahili look good,” he said. “Hopefully I can pick it up as I go.”

The opportunity for the former ACT Brumbies Academy member to play in France arose after Sea Hawks coach Charlie McAlister spoke to a few clubs.

“My coach from New Zealand was over in France watching his son play [for Toulouse] and he was talking to a few clubs,” Howell said. “That was part of the reason I went to New Zealand in the first place.”

Howell finished eighth of 10 teams in the North Harbour Rugby Union competition, one tier under the ITM Cup, before returning home and completing the season with Maitland in the Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union competition.

Now the former Hunter valley Grammar School student will head to the western side of France, about 440 kilometres south of France and slightly north and inland of Bordeaux. 

Howell expects to be playing No.8 or breakaway for SA XV Charente, who are six games into a 26-round season.

“I can’t wait to get started,” he said.

“Hopefully it all goes well for the year and I will be able to re-sign with the club or go onto bigger and better things with another club.”

The season is set to finish in May and Howell said he would consider playing for the Blacks in 2014.

In the meantime he will line up for his beloved Dingoes outfit in the Maitland Touch Association after bagging three tries in Monday’s season opener.