Top 14: Toulon sign Schofield and Wihongi, in talks with Sackey; Big night for Bayonne

05 February 2010

Bayonne have confirmed that Cédric Garcia and Manny Edmonds will be the starting half-backs against Perpignan at home tonight, in their postponed round 14 match (due to swine-flu in the Catalan squad). The pair impressed during Bayonne’s 15-0 home win against Biarritz in the recent Basque derby, and head coach Christian Gajan has kept faith with the duo.

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Bayonne will be missing internationals Benjamin Fall and Craig Gower – with France and Italy respectively – while Perpignan will also be without internationals Nicolas Mas, David Marty, Marius Tincu and Ovidiu Tonita. Mas and Marty are both with the French squad, while Romanians Tincu and Tonita are required for their country’s World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Germany.

Perpignan do, however, welcome back Jerome Porical, although Julien Candelon, Viliami Vaki and Maxime Mermoz are still injured.

Bayonne have replaced Gower with Thibault Lacroix, while recently signed Toulon fly-half Sebastien Fauqué is on the bench. Full-back Pepito Elhorga continues as captain, with Bayonne looking to register a crucial league win that would see them climb out of the relegation zone. It would also be their fourth successive victory under Gajan should they run out winners, although the first two of those were in the Amlin Challenge Cup.

But Gajan’s efforts may be just a case of preparing the ground for yet another head coach to arrive – for what would be Bayonne’s fourth in a year – with Fabien Galthié continuing to be linked with the Basque club.

According to press reports in France Galthié has agreed to take over on the condition that Bayonne avoid relegation, which would seem more than a little harsh on Gajan should he indeed keep them up.

As things stand Bayonne are two points behind 12^th-placed Bourgoin, with tonight’s match (kick-off 8.45pm) being their game in hand. However, the Basques also have a further match in hand (against Bourgoin) on the rest of the league.

Perpignan, meanwhile, are currently fourth on 55 points, level on points with third-placed Stade Toulousain and just one point behind second-placed Clermont Auvergne.

Victory would take them into second place, either level on points with leaders Castres (should they gain the attacking bonus) or just one point behind.

Elsewhere in France big-spending Toulon are the first team out of the blocks in terms of confirming future signings, with Sale Sharks captain Dean Schofield and Bourgoin prop Karena Wihongi having already agreed to join for 2010/11.

Schofield – twice capped by England - will rejoin former boss Philippe Saint-Andre as he becomes the fourth Sale player to sign for Toulon since the head coach moved back to France in the summer – following in the footsteps of Sébastien Bruno, Rory Lamont and Juan-Martin Lobbe.

The 31-year-old lock has agreed a two-year deal with the Cote d’Azur club, joining the likes of fellow English players Jonny Wilkinson, Tom May, Kris Chesney and Joe El Abd.

“I have just turned 31 years of age and the opportunity to join Toulon gives me a chance to play in the French Top 14,” said Schofield. Sale’s director of rugby Kingsley Jones thanked Schofield for his “excellent service over the years” and described the player as “a model professional”.

Wihongi, 30, is originally from New Zealand but holds dual nationality after becoming a naturalized French citizen during his time with Bourgoin.

The capture of both players was confirmed by Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal this week, with the club also announcing that it was continuing discussions with Stade Francais centre Geoffroy Messina (27), Bourgoin hooker Jean-Philippe Genevois (22), Albi full-back Benjamin Lapeyre (23), Racing-Métro prop Clement Baiocco (30) and Lyon OU lock Fakat Aliki (24).

Rumours are also persisting that Toulon are chasing international wingers Paul Sackey (England) and Shane Williams (Wales) with the ambitious club having already held talks with both players apparently.

One player who definitely will not be coming, though, is Leicester Tigers winger Lote Tuqiri. The sacked Australian international has instead confirmed that he will return home to play rugby league for Wests Tigers after signing a three-year deal with the NRL side.

Racing-Métro 92 have also been active, with reports this week claiming that Perpignan scrum-half Nicolas Durand will join them next season on a two-year contract.

The player himself has said that nothing has been signed yet, although he confirmed that he was in discussions with the Paris club.

“Nothing is signed with Racing-Métro. I’m discussing with Perpignan, but also with other clubs. There are many in the ranks. I should be fixed by the end of the month,” he told Midi Olympique.

The 28-year-old has been with the Catalans for six seasons, during which time he has also won two French caps. Racing would be his fourth club if he does sign with them, after previous spells with Béziers and Stade Toulousain before he joined Perpignan.

The Catalans have, however, confirmed that 20-year-old scrum-half Florian Cazenave and 21-year-old Bertrand Guiry have both signed new three-year deals with the current French champions.

Finally, Stade Toulousain believe they have convinced international outcast Maxime Médard to sign a new two-year contract but discussions remain ongoing with France winger Vincent Clerc, who finishes his current deal in the summer.

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