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Tomane: Montpellier lost in the RDS in the last two seasons of the Champions Cup. Tommy Dickson/INPHO
New Boy

'It will be nice to win in the RDS for a change': Tomane settling into Leinster life with help from an old friend

Leinster’s new recruit is ready to hit the ground running.

LEINSTER NEW BOY Joe Tomane has revealed how the chance to team up again with an old friend was one of the key factors in his move to the European champions.

Tomane and Scott Fardy played Super Rugby together for five seasons with the Brumbies as well as with the Australian national team.

And Tomane, 28, said that his fellow Wallaby has been instrumental in helping him to settle in so quickly to life in a new country.

“He was probably one of the main reasons why I came here,” he told Leinster Rugby TV.

I knew him really well. His wife and my wife are quite close as well so it would have made it very easy for her to transition to life here as well.

He’s been showing me around but then again,  all the boys have been so inviting, showing me around town, giving me tips on where to eat, where not to eat, where not to get caught [eating]. Those sort of tips have been really helpful.

“It’s a really good group here and the group have been so welcoming. It’s made my transition into Dublin life so easy.”

Jamie Heaslip with Joseph Tomane Tomane and Jamie Heaslip do battle in 2017. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Leinster’s close-knit culture on and off the field also made the move from Montpellier an easy sell, Tomane added.

“[Fardy told me] how close the boys are. He was telling me the guys seem to get together off the field a lot which is really cool. Being from overseas can be quite tough, I guess, off the field but him saying that the guys in the club are so inviting, and how close they are off the field as well, made it an easy decision for me to come here.”

Tomane is no stranger to his new surroundings, coming up against Leinster with Montpellier during the pool stages of the Champions Cup in each of the last two seasons — although he’s still waiting for a first win at the RDS.

The crowd are awesome. Even as a visiting team, the fans are amazing. It will be nice to actually win in the RDS. Both times we’ve come here, I’ve lost, so it’ll be nice to actually win for a change.”

He added: “I’ll definitely be giving it my all, 100%. Every time I play, every time I train, I’ll definitely be giving it 100%. Win, lose or draw, I’ll hopefully always have a smile on my face. I’m really excited to be here, I can’t wait to play, and I’m looking forward to the challenge of going back-to-back.”

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