Change of destination: Juan Martin Hernandez Photo: Michael Paler

Argentina’s Juan Martin Hernandez had verbally agreed to join Toulon before deciding to sign for South Africa’s Natal Sharks, according to reports in France.

Rugbyrama.com says Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal was so confident of securing ‘El Mago’ that he even informed his staff on Monday night that Hernandez would be joining.

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The Argentine was apparently prepared to play full-back with England’s Jonny Wilkinson and fellow Puma Felipe Contepomi sharing the fly-half duties.

“I can tell you that on Monday night, before going to bed, I announced to the staff and Philippe Saint-Andre that Hernandez had signed for Toulon. But on Tuesday morning that was no longer the case,” said Boudjellal.

“To tell you how well the negotiations were going we were discussing the second plane ticket for his girlfriend,” added the Toulon president.

Hernandez had reportedly agreed a three-year deal before electing to sign for the Sharks instead, but Boudjellal remains confident that the mercurial Argentine could still join Toulon at the end of his one-year contract in South Africa.

Perpignan’s Scottish international Nathan Hines, meanwhile, is reportedly close to agreeing to sign for Leinster.

Hines, who toured South Africa with the British Lions without playing in the Tests, is apparently ready to end his four-year stay in France by joining the Heineken Cup champions.

Reports in France say Perpignan president Paul Goze has given his blessing to the transfer despite Hines, 32, having a year left on his contract.

The hulking second row missed Perpignan’s triumph in the Top 14 final to be with the British and Irish Lions, and it is believed that fellow tourist Brian O’Driscoll – the Leinster captain – has been a persuasive factor in his decision to move.

Bayonne has become the latest Top 14 club to take a ‘home’ match away from its usual stadium. President Francis Salagoity confirmed the Basques will play at least one match in Spain – at the Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastien – while seven of its first 11 league matches will be played on the road to allow the completion of a new stand at the Stade Jean Dauger.

Elsewhere, agreement has finally been reached between the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) and the Federation Francaise de Rugby (FFR) in an effort to work together for the interests of both Top 14 and the national team.

Part of the new deal stipulates that the French squad will remain together throughout the Six Nations championship, even though Top 14 matches are scheduled for the off-weekend between the Ireland and Wales matches.

Dax fly-half Antoine Vignau-Tuquet will miss the start of the ProD2 season after undergoing an operation on a torn adductor. He is expected to be out of action for two and a half months after electing for surgery on a long-standing problem injury that surfaced back in January.

“My game was disturbed because I had really bad pain every time I played,” explained Vignau-Tuquet. “It was difficult because we did not find what I had and the pain persisted. Further tests in June eventually revealed a tear and we tried to avoid surgery by undergoing physiotherapy,” he added.

Vignau-Tuquet now hopes to be back in action by mid-September.

Federale 1 club Marseille-Vitrolles have followed up on their capture of former All Blacks star Jonah Lomu by signing two young Clermont Auvergne players: Roman Veniatis (a hooker) and Florent Giboudin (full-back/winger).

Former Bristol coach Richard Hill has also spoken about the challenge he faces after agreeing a two-year deal with Federale 1 side Chalon-sur-Saone.

“The job gives me an opportunity to go across to France and understand a lot more about the French system,” he said. “The English and French are diametrically opposed in both rugby and life – and I have always wanted to see whether or not a balance between the two can be successful. I am intrigued whether a bit of English rigour in training and English discipline can blend with the natural flair of the French game to produce a successful hybrid,” he explained.

Hill said he hoped to “earn some respect” from his peers by taking over at a club in Federale 1 - rather than in ProD2 or Top 14 – although he hopes to progress through the ranks in time.

“I am keen to do my apprenticeship in Federale 1, then progress to ProD2 and then I would certainly be interested in coaching in Top 14,” he added.