Radradra slips out of a back door at ANZ Stadium and heads for France

Back in 2015, Scrum-half Will Genia famously told reporters he would report for duty at Top 14 side Stade Francais the day after Australia’s World Cup run in England came to an end.

He kept his promise, as much as possible given that the final was on a Saturday, dutifully turning up at the Paris club’s training ground the following Monday. He even started for Stade the following weekend in the 24-21 defeat at home to Bordeaux.

Ultimately, things did not quite work out for Genia at Stade. He was released from his three-year deal a season early to sign for Melbourne Rebels and returned to Australia in time for the 2017 Rugby Championship.

But history has a tendency to repeat itself, especially when it comes to cute little stories like Genia’s. Earlier this year, now-former Parramatta Eels’ winger Semi Radradra told reporters in Australia he would head to France and a lucrative two-year cross-code contract with Top 14 side Toulon as soon as the club’s NRL run ended. Which it did at the weekend with a surprise defeat to North Queensland Cowboys.

To the dismay and annoyance of waiting journalists at ANZ Stadium, he apparently slipped quietly out of a back door without a word after the match. They couldn’t even able to talk to him about the 100m touchdown he scored as a – possibly temporary – farewell to the club’s fans.

Word is, the 25-year-old hopped on the first available flight to France. He was expected to land in the port town on the Mediterranean coast early this week.

https://youtu.be/dd1lh-NaMWU

There was, for quite some time, some confusion over whether Radradra would make the trip north. He appeared to question his future; Toulon boss Mourad Boudjellal suggested that it may be better if he did not join the club if he was not prepared to be fully committed; then he said he will honour his contract – even that he is looking forward to it. Now, it seems, he really is on his way.

Toulon already have a plan for the winger, twice-weekly rugby newspaper Midi Olympique reports. He is expected to move from the wing into the midfield, where he will partner one of Ma’a Nonu, Mathieu Bastareaud or Malakai Fekitoa as part of a ferocious-looking centre rotation.

Eventually, at least. While Radradra may join his new team-mates for next weekend’s trip to Paris and Genia’s old club, he’ll be suited and booted rather than in full kit. Bosses at Toulon are giving him a little time to settle into at the club and get to grips with the 15-player version of the game.