Rabah Slimani pens deal with French giants as Leinster exit signed off

Veteran former France tighthead Rabah Slimani will return to the Top 14 next season after signing a one-year deal to join Toulon, after spending the last two years in the United Rugby Championship with Leinster.

Slimani, 36, was a key part of the Leinster side that beat the Bulls to win the URC Grand Final, earning himself a recall to the France team for their two summer Test match defeats at the hands of the All Blacks.

But he has suffered from injuries this season and has been restricted to just nine appearances for Leo Cullen’s side, the last coming in the win over the Scarlets at the end of last month.

Slimani is highly experienced in the Top 14, having played 93 times for Stade Français and then 149 for Clermont Auvergne before moving to Dublin.

At 5’10 and 124kg, Slimani has the option for a second year with the Côte d’Azur outfit, who were the quickest off the mark to see off advances from Lyon and Pro D2 side Provence Rugby, who were interested in signing him.

Leinster were understood to have been open to keeping him, but Slimani, who is from Sarcelles in the northern suburbs of Paris, has opted to return home to France to join his third Top 14 club.

He becomes Toulon’s fourth new signing ahead of next season, with Scotland centre Huw Jones, Brive’s France under-20 international fly-half Luka Keletaona and back row Judicaël Cancoriet, a Clermont team-mate of Slimani, already announced.

Slimani admits that he is looking forward to taking on a new challenge and bringing his experience to Pierre Mignoni’s side when he joins up later this summer.

“I am very happy to join the club and take on this new challenge. I arrive with a lot of desire, that of bringing my experience to the group and contributing to collective performance.

“I have always been attached to the values of combat and solidarity, and I look forward to registering for this project and meeting the supporters,” he said.