Top 14: Paul Sackey wings in to Toulon, but confusion surrounds Shane Williams' future

05 March 2010

England winger Paul Sackey said the twin attractions of a new environment and the coaching skills of Philippe Saint-André had persuaded him to leave London Wasps for Toulon.

The 22-times capped winger was speaking at his first French press conference after jetting in to the Cote d'Azur.

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Sackey, 30, signed a two-year deal to join Jonny Wilkinson and company at Toulon, and admitted he spurned other offers from French clubs to finally join up with Saint-André.

"I wanted to change my environment and my lifestyle," he said. "I could have gone to Paris, but it was too similar to London. I want to experience a real change, by signing for a club that offers me something different and has lots of ambition.

"Toulon want to become a great French club again and that desire is attractive. For that reason, I feel that Toulon is made for me," he added.

Sackey is certainly no stranger to silverware, having won two Premiership titles with Wasps, as well as the 2007 Heineken Cup. He also a World Cup runners-up medal to his name, and said conversations with current England players based at Toulon had helped make up his mind.

"I spoke about it to Tom May and others and they all told me that the club and the passion of the supporters were incredible," confirmed Sackey. "But it was me, above all, that took this decision to make a fresh start."

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Sackey becomes the fourth Wasps player to move to France following last season's departures of James Haskell, Tom Palmer and Riki Flutey. He revealed that Saint-André had twice tried to sign him previously - while at Gloucester and Sale Sharks - and that his admiration for the former France international had also proved a persuasive factor.

"I've known him and respected him for a long time, and it's clear that his presence influenced my decision," said Sackey. "He's a great coach and the current Toulon players confirmed what I'd always thought about him."

But while Sackey was happy to pledge his future to Toulon it seems the uncertainty over whether he will be joined by Welsh winger Shane Williams is set to continue. Sources within the club suggest that deal is now dead in the water after securing Sackey's signature, but Williams himself has admitted that he could yet be tempted despite still having one-year left to run on his Ospreys contract.

The 33-year-old told BBC Sport that he remained happy at the Ospreys but refused to rule out a move. "Who knows what the future holds?" he said. "I have obviously heard that there's a lot of interest down in the south of France, the likes of Toulon and so on," he added.

Williams, who scored his 50th international try against France recently, went on to say: "I do enjoy my French rugby. I do watch the French league on telly. It would be nice to have some sun. We don't get too much in Swansea!"

But while Williams refused to be drawn on his future another report - this time in the Western Mail - claimed any possible transfer was now history after Toulon discovered the player still had a year left on his Ospreys contract.

It quoted French agent Laurent Quaglia - who brokered Jonny Wilkinson's move - as saying that the "deal is now off".

"It was a concrete offer, the details had been drawn up and the contract was on the table," said Quaglia. "We had been given the clear impression all along that he was out of contract at the end of the season and free to join Toulon in the summer."

The agent went on to say that president Mourad Boudjellal was "very unhappy" at developments.

Toulon have also been frustrated in their efforts to sign fellow Welsh international Eifion Lewis Roberts from Saint-André's former club Sale Sharks, with the heavyweight prop opting to extend his stay with the Manchester-based outfit.

Elsewhere in France, Racing-Métro 92 scrum-half Mathieu Lorée has been banned for four months for twice testing positive for cannabis. The FFR's anti-doping commission have effectively ended Lorée's season, with the player now not available until July 3 2010.

Lorée failed a first test in October - for which he was given a three-month ban - and a second test in November - for which he has now been banned for a further four months.

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