Top 14: Toulon prepare £1m package to lure
Shane Williams; Ti'i Paulo signs for Clermont
25 February 2010
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Wing wizard: Shane Williams
Photo: Michael Paler |
Big-spending Top 14 side Toulon are putting together a £1m
two-year deal to lure Welsh winger Shane Williams away from
the Ospreys, according to press reports.
The
Western Mail claims Williams, 33, will be offered a
basic £500,000 per season salary, with the Ospreys
compensated an additional £200,000 in the shape of a
transfer fee for allowing the winger to leave with one year
still remaining on his contract.
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The
report further claimed that Ospreys had already prepared the
ground for Williams' departure by signing Dragons winger
Richard Fussell.
The huge
financial offer for Williams could tempt the former IRB
Player of the Year to sign for one final pay day before
retiring, and it would also satisfy Toulon president Mourad
Boudjellal's quest to bring in another international star.
The
ambitious club - currently fifth in Top 14 - have already
signed England internationals Paul Sackey and Dean Schofield
for next season, while the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Juan
Fernández Lobbe, Felipe Contepomi, Rory Lamont and Joe van
Niekerk are already on their books. Head coach Philippe
Saint-André is attempting to build a squad that can
challenge both domestically and in next season's Heineken
Cup - provided they qualify.
Top 14 Transfers 2010/11
Toulon
have already made the quarter finals of this season's ACC -
where they have a home tie against the Scarlets - and the
Cote d'Azur club also looks set to make the end-of-season
French play-offs. They won 6-3 at Stade Toulousain at the
weekend to underline their growing strength and self-belief.
The capture of Williams would be a massive
coup for the French club, and it would also help offset the
possible departure of another Williams - Sonny Bill, the
former rugby league international who is rumoured to be set
for a return back to New Zealand.
'SBW' is
reportedly keen to try and break into the All Blacks squad
in time to make the 2011 World Cup, and knows that to do so
he must return to New Zealand to make himself eligible. NZRU
boss Steve Tew has confirmed that he has already held talks
with Williams about a possible return.
One
Ospreys player definitely not crossing 'Le Channel' this
summer is Welsh scrum-half Mike Phillips, after the player
signed a new four-year deal reportedly worth £1.4m.
In other
transfer news Clermont Auvergne have confirmed that Kiwi
hooker Ti'i Paulo will be joining them next season on a
two-year contract. The 27-year-old Canterbury Crusaders
player is a former Under-19 and Under-20 international, and
joins the French outfit after Clermont failed to tempt
Benjamin Kayser away from Stade Francais.
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