IT IS EXPECTED that Toulon will officially confirm the signing of Australian out-half Quade Cooper before the end of the season, as their policy of recruiting world superstars shows no signs of abating.
The 27-year-old playmaker was present at Stade Vélodrome on Sunday to watch Mourad Boudjellal’s Top 14 club beat Leinster in the semi-finals of the Champions Cup, having spent the weekend visiting the south of France.
Cooper met with former Reds teammate Ben Lucas, now with Jake White’s Montpellier, and reportedly discussed contract details with Boudjellal and other Toulon representatives.
The Wallabies out-half’s ARU contract expires after this year’s World Cup, and French daily sports newspaper L’Équipe is reporting that Cooper has indeed signed a two-year deal with Toulon.
The prospect of Cooper joining Toulon’s star-studded squad has been circulating in rugby circles for some time now, with the New Zealand-born halfback having been identified as a key target by Boudjellal.
Toulon have already confirmed the signings of Ma’a Nonu, Samu Manoa, Napolioni Nalaga, Salesi Ma’afu, Jonathan Pélissié and Thibault Lassalle ahead of next season, while it also believed they have agreed terms with South Africa number eight Duane Vermeulen.
As they look for their third Champions Cup title in a row in May, it seems Toulon’s European dominance will not be ending any time soon.
Hope we have another big performance in us. I know it wasn’t the easiest watch on Sunday but we definitely have some football in us. A semi-final would be dreamland.
@Sam Bingham: We’re already in dreamland Sam. Great days.
On the Lú