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Toulon are stepping up their efforts to tempt Welsh scrum-half Rhys Webb to the Top 14 next season, after missing out on the signature of Bordeaux nine Yann Lesgourges, reports in France have claimed.
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The lightning-fast Lesgourges was courted by the three-time European champions. But Fabien Galthie has turned his attention again to the Ospreys’ player after Lesgourges reportedly agreed to stay at Stade Chaban-Delmas for another three years.
Webb poured cold water on reports of a move away from Wales during an interview after Ospreys’ Pro 14 match against Munster. He said: “We’re working closing with the WRU at the moment so hopefully we can get things sorted.”
But French rugby newspaper Midi Olympique reports that Toulon are prepared to table an offer for Webb in the coming days.
It follows the latest blow to Mourad Boudjellal’s stated intentions to build a complete French-qualified team capable of challenging for the Top 14 title within five years.
But it seems the change in attitude is genuine. Last weekend, Mourad Boudjellal trumpeted the fact that seven of the players selected for the matchday 23 for the away win over Stade Francais had come through the club’s academy set-up.
demain 7 joueurs du centre de formation sur la feuille de match c est le nouveau rct
— Mourad Boudjellal (@mouradhfc) September 23, 2017
It is not so very long ago that the club threatened to forfeit a Top 14 match because they would have been forced to field academy players.
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The club is also said to be keen on retaining the services of out-of-contract Sebastian Tillous-Borde. A move to Toulon would mean Webb could compete for the number 9 shirt with French-qualified Tillous-Borde, Eric Escande and rising star Anthony Meric.
Lesgourges, who moved to Bordeaux from Biarritz in 2014, is the second big-name France-qualified Toulon target to reject the club’s advances for next season. Last week, centre Jonathan Danty opted to stay at Stade Francais.
He opted to continue his challenge French international Baptiste Serin for the starting scrum-half berth at Bordeaux. He has featured in all five of the club’s matches so far this season, starting three times.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments