Toulon fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has given his backing to new club recruit Gavin Henson following the Welsh international's surprise transfer.

Wilkinson welcomed Henson's arrival on the same day that Toulon flexed their transfer muscle once more by confirming the further arrival of Brive's France international Alexis Palisson.

Wilkinson, who came on as a late sub in England's Friday night win in Cardiff, hopes Henson's cross-Channel move will reignite the 29-year-old's career as it did his own.

"I can't impress upon you enough what a change to my life living in France has made. I'm sure the move to France will have the same positive effect on Gavin," he told the BBC.

"It is an exciting time for him. We have a great team spirit in Toulon. While supporting him massively they'll ask for a huge input from him, which is exactly what you want as a rugby player. The onus is very much on the player. The opportunity to enjoy it, to learn and broaden your horizons is there, but it comes down to what you want to make of it.

Top 14 Transfers 2010/11

"You have to make a decision when you go there how much you will embrace the culture and the language. You can choose to have the whole experience and get the very best out of it, or you decide to go there and hang in," said Wilkinson.

The England star made an immediate impact in France because he made a massive effort to embrace the language, and such has been his success he was voted the best overseas player in Top 14 last season.

Henson has admitted that one of the main reasons behind him moving to Toulon was the opportunity to play alongside Wilkinson once the Six Nations is over. And it seems that Wilkinson is relishing the idea of the 10-12 partnership as well.

"I am looking forward to playing with him. We have a good end of season in prospect," said the fly-half.

Toulon have a Heineken Cup quarter-final against Perpignan in Barcelona and they are also challenging for the end-of-season league play-offs.

Top 14 League Table 2010/11

"We are desperate to achieve something this year so there'll be some big pressure games and those are the memories you want. After playing with him on the Lions tour I know Gavin is hugely talented. He was outstanding and I managed to play with him in the Test. He is a hugely talented player, quite unique in some ways in what he has to his game. His long kicking game mixed with his power and aggression and his defence and creativity - he's got all the skills," purred Wilkinson.

'Wilko' also spoke glowingly of Toulon's fanatical supporters. "They make you," he said. "They give you an extra 15-20% you don't think you have because they are that keen to push you to help get what you want to achieve."

He added: "It's obscene the level of support they are willing to give you and embracing the culture is paying that back. That doesn't mean running till you drop on the weekend - it means during the week as well."

Meanwhile, Palisson, 23, had long been tipped to join the growing list of rugby "Galacticos" on the Cote d'Azur, and his arrival is yet another coup for owner Mourad Boudjellal and head coach Philippe Saint-André.

The Brive player can fit in at either full-back or on the wing and is also highly rated by France head coach Marc Lièvremont. He is currently with France's Six Nations squad, although he failed to add to his 12 caps in Saturday's 34-21 home win against Scotland.

Toulon are sure to make further big-name transfers in the coming weeks, with South Africa's Bakkies Botha among a host of other internationals being lined up for duty.

Elsewhere, Montpellier have continued their recruitment by signing Samoan back-rower Alex Tulou as a "medical joker" to cover the injury-enforced absence of Jérôme Vallée, while Brad Thorn's agent has played down reports the All Blacks international has already signed a one-year deal to join Clermont Auvergne after the World Cup.

Confirmed Transfers For 2011/12

In:
SU Agen: Dewald Senekal ** (from Toulon)

Clermont Auvergne: Lee Byrne (from Ospreys); David Skrela (from Stade Toulousain); Regan King (from Llanelli Scarlets); Gerhard Vosloo (from Brive); Benjamin Kayser (from Castres)

Montpellier: Rémy Martin (from Bayonne), Agustin Creevy (from Clermont Auvergne), Lucas Amorosino (from Leicester Tigers), Yoan Audrin (from Castres), Jean-Baptiste Peyras (from Bayonne), Alex Tulou (Bourgoin)

Perpignan: James Hook (from Ospreys)

Stade Francais: Paul Warwick (from Munster)

Stade Toulousain: Timoci Matanavou (from Mont-de-Marsan)

Toulon: Gavin Henson ** (from Saracens), Alexis Palisson (from Brive)

Out:
Biarritz: Ayoola Erinle, Fabien Alexandre (to Grenoble)

Castres: Cameron McIntyre

Stade Toulousain: Byron Kelleher (possibly to Bayonne)

Toulon: George Smith (to Suntory, Japan)

** Gavin Henson joins Toulon with immediate effect, and likewise with Dewald Senekal to SU Agen.