LAST WEEK FRENCH rugby was firmly focused on Racing Metro as they announced their post-World Cup signing of Dan Carter. Many people joked that Toulon would hit back with a few transfers of their own because their owner Mourad Boudjellal can’t stand not being the centre of attention.
Those hunches have proven right as France Eurosport say Boudjellal has confirmed that bulldozing inside centre Ma’a Nonu will join after the World Cup in December. Also, it was announced that former Italian international and Stade Francais out-half Diego Dominguez will take over from Bernard Laporte in the summer of 2016.
Scarily, there was more, as Toulon have also captured Clermont’s Fijian flyer Napolioni Nalaga. Nalaga and Nonu are two of the most destructive runners in world rugby so it is slightly frightening to think what Toulon’s backline might look like after the World Cup.
It is a little depressing from an Irish rugby perspective that the days of big name imports like Doug Howlett and Rocky Elsom seem to be at an end with all the money in French rugby.
