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Ex-All Black Toeava one of 3 new Toulon signings, French skipper Ollivon and Parisse among 11 contract extensions
Former All Black Isaia Toeava is one of three new signings at Toulon while France skipper Charles Ollivon and veteran Italian Sergio Parisse are among the large batch of eleven players who have agreed to contract extensions at the Top 14 club.
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Samoan-born Toeava earned 36 caps and signed off from New Zealand as a 2011 World Cup winner. He first played in the French top-flight with Clermont, making a February 2016 debut at Castres having played for Japanese duo, Kubota Spears and Canon Eagles, since leaving the Super Rugby Blues in 2012.
Toeava became a Clermont regular but with the club now clearing out much of its old guard, it left the 34-year-old looking elsewhere and he has come to a one-year agreement with Patrice Collazo at Toulon. They were in fourth place when the 2019/20 was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic with nine wins and two draws from 17 games.
Toulon’s two other new signings are Jeremy Boyadjis, a prop from Rennes who has also a one-year deal, and Thomas Jolmes, a lock from La Rochelle who has signed for three years. “Isaia is an international player who has occupied all positions in the three-quarter line with Clermont and the All Blacks. He is a versatile and experienced player,” said Collazo on the Toulon club website.
“Jeremy is a player with extensive experience in Federal 1. He has very good forwards skills and a lot of room for improvement. He has all the criteria to meet the high level and Top 14. Thomas, meanwhile, is a player with great athletic potential.”
Regarding the raft of contract extensions at the club, the big winners were French captain Ollivon, the 27-year-old back row, and Anthony Etrillard, the 27-year-old hooker. Even before the pandemic struck, lengthy contracts were difficult to secure but Ollivon has signed a five-year extension and Etrillard a deal that will last for four.
Meanwhile, 36-year-old Parisse has agreed on a one-year deal after making ten appearances for the club he joined last summer after being pushed aside at Stade Francais, his long-term home.
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Toulon’s other extended deals are: Daniel Ikpefan (three seasons), Theo Lachaud, Swan Rebbadj, Bastien Soury, Erwan Dridi, Ramiro Moyano and Sonatane Takulua (all two seasons), and Anthony Medic (one season).
? Isaia Toeava, Thomas Jolmes et Jérémy Boyadjis sont Toulonnais ! ??
Bienvenue sur la rade. ?? pic.twitter.com/lxjSJwPjW1
— RCT – RC Toulon (@RCTofficiel) June 12, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments