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Halfpenny to leave Toulon as contract will not be extended
By Harry West
Leigh Halfpenny looks set to leave Toulon after the club’s president revealed the full-back’s contract will not be extended due to his international commitments.
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The Wales man, who is currently touring New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions, was forced to miss Toulon’s Top 14 final against Clermont Auvergne earlier this month.
Toulon went on to lose the final 22-16, and president Mourad Boudjellal is less than impressed with the situation.
A deal between Wales and Cardiff Blues to bring Halfpenny back to his homeland reportedly fell through over the length of the contract, while it is understood Toulon wanted Halfpenny to re-sign with them before he left for New Zealand.
“I did not want to extend it,” Boudjellal told RMC Sport.
“It is not for nothing. It the fault of the international system and internationals being absent too often.
“If he had stayed he would have returned in early August and missed the first three games because he could not have played for a month.”