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Parisse lines up Toulon extension but the outlook is reportedly different for ex-All Blacks duo Nonu and Toeava

By Sam Smith
(Photo by Getty Images)

Ex-Italy international Sergio Parisse is reportedly poised to secure an extension to his career at Toulon but the same can’t be said for fellow 30-something veterans Ma’a Nonu and Isaia Toeava, the pair of All Blacks World Cup winners who arrived at the French club for the 2020/21 season.  

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Parisse, the 142-cap Italian back row who turns 38 in September, caused a stir in French rugby when he left his long-time club Stade Francais and came to Toulon in 2019. He spoke in March this year about wanting to extend his career for another season.  

“I understood two things: I still want to play and I am certain that I still have something to bring to the field,” he said. “My priority is to finish my career at RCT. I’m already in very advanced discussions with the club, but I will make an announcement as soon as everything is fixed. For the rest, it is true that I would like to coach. But today my only priority is to know where I will play in 2021/2022.”

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Midi Olympique, the bi-weekly French rugby newspaper, have now reported that no deal has yet been signed but they believe what is being discussed is a one-year player/coach deal for Parisse, not simply a play-only deal.    

While Toulon seemingly having every intention of keeping Parisse on board for the 2021/22 season, their stance regarding their 2011 World Cup-winning All Blacks is said to be very different.  

With Nonu set to turn 39 next month, it appears that age has finally caught up with the New Zealand superstar who has 103 Test caps to his name. Having first come to Toulon following the All Blacks’ 2015 World Cup win, Nonu moved on to the Blues and the San Diego Legion before returning to the French club last September but he is currently serving a three-game ban for a red card and Midi are reporting that his one-year deal won’t be extended. 

It’s a similar situation with Toeava, the 35-year-old who came to Toulon this season following five years at Top 14 rivals Clermont. Although he has made 15 appearances this term and was a useful player to have in the absence of Louis Carbonel, it’s believed he will not at the club for the 2021/2022 campaign. 

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Trevor 2 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 6 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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