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Jonny Wilkinson: French fancy
Photo: Michael Paler |
Jonny Wilkinson appears to
be a shimmy away from signing for Top 14 side Toulon after successful
weekend talks between the two parties.
The increasing momentum
behind the move was evident on Saturday when England's World Cup-winning
fly-half was in the stands to watch
Toulon go
down 29-32 against Perpignan.
The international record
points-scorer was the the Felix Mayol to watch his prospective future
team-mates, and
also to hold talks with Toulon president Mourad
Boudjellal.
The latter was subsequently
quoted in L'Equipe confirming that discussions had taken place.
"We welcomed him, he was
happy and now he's gone," said Boudjellal.
"The most important thing
today for us is to stay in the top flight. We will think about other things
afterwards," he added.
Saturday's last-minute
defeat didn't help their cause, but Toulon have shown great improvement in
recent weeks and now look good value to stay up, despite still being 11th in
the division.
Their revival has coincided
with two crucial developments at the Top 14 side. Firstly; Sale's Philippe
Saint-Andre was confirmed as director of rugby for next season. Secondly;
Current coach Tana Umaga has strapped on his playing boots again and appears
to be inspiring greater team cohesion and belief.
The appointment of
Springbok Joe van Niekerk also appears to have paid dividends, and the
prospect of an immediate return to Pro D2 doesn't look the foregone
conclusion it had just a few weeks back.
Saint-Andre's influence is
becoming increasingly hands-on the longer the season progresses, with a raft
of international players already having agreed to join Toulon next season -
including Cardiff's Jamie Robinson, Sale's Sebastien Bruno and most recently
Leinster's Felipe Contepomi.
Argentine Contepomi plays
fly-half, like Wilkinson, but the need for cover in all positions is
essential in a league where the season drags from August through to June.
If Wilkinson were to sign -
as seems likely - he would probably have an escape clause in his contract
should Toulon fail to stay up. Next week's trip to 10th-placed Castres - who
are level with Toulon on 33 points - now takes on huge significance for both
sides. Victory for eother would be another massive step on the road to Top
14 survival, especially with Dax and Mont-de-Marsan again losing at the
weekend.
Wilkinson, 29, has always
fancied a stint in Top 14 - he signed up for French lessons some years back
in preparation - and with injuries having already robbed him of three years
playing time he knows that he needs to make a decision sooner rather than
later.
The prospect of teaming up
with the likes of Umaga and Saint-Andre must also be appealing - as will the
euro-stuffed contract that Boudjellal is bound to put in front of him.
