Top 14: Toulon confirm Paul Sackey signing;
Natal Sharks sign Brive's Andy Goode on loan
18 February 2010
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Winging in: Toulon have signed
Paul Sackey on a two-year deal
Photo: Michael Paler |
Toulon have confirmed that England winger Paul Sackey
has signed a two-year contract with them.
The
30-year-old
last week announced his intention to
leave London Wasps in the summer and the Top 14
outfit has now announced that he will be joining the likes
of Jonny Wilkinson and Juan Sebastien Lobbe as Philippe
Saint-André continues to strengthen his squad.
Sources
close to the club have said that Sackey's move has now put
an end to speculation they might also sign Welsh wing wizard
Shane Williams.
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The
England international joins a multinational squad that also
features former Springbok Joe Van Niekerk and fellow
Guinness Premiership arrival Dean Schofield.
He told Sky Sports News
this week tat it was
also time for a change to refresh his enthusiasm for playing
professional rugby.
“It’s
not about the money,” he explained. “I’ve stayed at Wasps
for so many years when I could have gone. I’m at that stage
in my career when I need a new challenge; I need a new lease
of life.
“I think
a move away from Wasps at this moment in time is probably a
good step for me – it will probably make me more
enthusiastic about the game. It was a very hard decision for
me. I love the staff, I love the players – I have my friends
there. It’s probably the hardest decision I’ve had to make,
but I’ve made my decision now – I’ve just got to go with it
and make the best out of it. I’m definitely not going for
the money. I would have stayed at Wasps for a little bit
more,” he added.
But while one Sackey's arrival has now been
officially confirmed it's exit time for another, at least
for the time being, following news that South Africa's Natal
Sharks have signed Brive fly-half Andy Goode on loan.
The
17-times capped England international will join them with
immediate effect for their forthcoming five-match
Australasian Super-14 tour. The Sharks have turned to Goode
after Racing-Métro bound Argentine Juan Hernandez was ruled
out with injury and his replacement Steve Meyer - who joined
from Perpignan - suddenly announced his retirement.
Goode,
29, enjoyed a successful first season with Brive in 2008/9
after joining from Leicester Tigers but has struggled this
season due to a combination of injury and loss of form.
Indeed, he had lost his starting place to Fabrice Estebanez,
who recently earned a call-up to the France squad on the
back of his strong performances.
The loan
agreement is for the Australasian tour only at present, but
the Sharks could make it a more permanent move if all goes
well for both player and team.
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