TOWERING WALLABIES LOCK Rory Arnold will join French club Toulouse at the end of the 2019 Super Rugby season, his team ACT Brumbies have announced.
The 28-year-old, one of the tallest players in rugby at 2.08 metres (6.8 feet), has been a mainstay of the Canberra-based Brumbies since 2015.
“I’ve come to the decision that the 2019 season will be my last in Canberra. It was a very hard decision to make,” said Arnold, who has played 19 times for Australia.
“I believe the timing is right to move on after this season and experience something new. Now that I’ve made my decision, I’m looking forward to the 2019 season and the future.”
The move does not rule him out of the World Cup in Japan next year as he will have played Super Rugby in the same season.
But he will be ineligible after that under rules that overseas-based players must have at least 60 caps to still be in contention for the Wallabies.
Brumbies chief Phil Thomson said Arnold made his decision “for the longevity of his rugby career”.
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I don’t see how playing in France is going to prolong his career. Best of luck to him though. A great city and a club on the rise again.
@Cian Nolan: ya didn’t get that. Thought maybe he meant he’d make more money??
Toulon are putting together some pack for next year.
@Darren Byrne: Hopefully Toulouse will be able to challenge them with the addition of Arnold.
@Darren Byrne: Toulon, Toulouse, meanwhile the French youngsters get less and less prime exposure at the top level, the demise of the French team is a bad development for NH rugby.