Israel Folau
Even with the Top 14 Final looming, the French media rumour mill has gone into overdrive about Southern Hemisphere players heading north for the next season.
Waratahs superstar Israel Folau is the latest Wallaby linked to a move to cash-flush French club Toulon.
Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal, who has never been scared to wield his substantial cheque book to lure big names to Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, has already made substantial acquisitions for the 2015 / 2016 season.
According to the French sporting newspaper Midi Olympique Boudjellal and his people are already speaking to Folau.
If the 2-time European champions convince the Wallaby fullback to head to France after the World Cup, in England in September and October, he will join a long list of high-profile recruits.
Already said to be heading to Toulon for the new season are Ma’a Nonu (from the Hurricanes), Jonathan Pélissié (from Montpellier), France Thibault (from Oyonnax), Salesi Ma’afu (from Northampton Saints), Samu Manoa (from Northampton Saints), Mohamed Boughanmi (from Béziers), Julien Caminati (from France Grenoble), Quade Cooper (or so they claim, from the Reds), James O’Connor (another unconfirmed arrival – from the Reds), Charles Ollivon (from Bayonne), Anthony Etrillard (from Bayonne) and Paul O’Connell (from Munster).
This comes in the wake of the departure of a number of internationals that took the ambitious French club to 2 European titles (2014 and 2015) and the French Top 14 title last year.
Those departing include Bakkies Botha (retired), Carl Hayman (retired), Ali Williams (retired), Michael Claassens (heading to the Sharks), Nicolas Durand (to Lyon), Chris Masoe (to Racing Métro), Nicolás Sánchez (to Argentina’s Super Rugby team), Stéphane Munoz (to Montauban), Corentin Braendlin (to Agen), Rudi Wulf (to Castres) and David Smith (to Castres).
With Folau’s contract with the Australian Rugby Union expiring after the World Cup, there is already talk of ‘negotiations’ for a return to Rugby League – with the Aussie rumour mill linking Canterbury, Parramatta and Gold Coast to the Wallaby No 15.
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