Developments at Toulon

conno16

hot on the heels of jonny wilkinson, there is a strong rumour doing the rounds that sir clive is moving to france
anyone heard anything bout this?

Beanmachine

Wilkinson wasn't the only Big name signing really here is the list that they announced on the website yesterday

James Peter Robinson
Felipe Contepomi
Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe
Kris Chesney
Tim Ryan
Tom May
Dewald Meyer Senekal
Joe El-Abd
Clément Marienval
Rory Lamont
Christian Loamanu
Tonga Sinih'olani Ofahen'gaue Lea'aetoa
Jonny Wilkinson
Sébastien Bruno
Laurent Emmanuelli
Pierre Mignoni.

Some very good players there the standouts obviously being Wilkinson,Contepomi,Lobbe,Lamont and Mignoni. Even some of the other players like Chesney Bruno and El Abd and Tom May are useful enough. Don't really know whether they have the depth to compete with the big French clubs but should be interesting to see how they get on next season anyway.

ALH-06

Beanmachine wrote: »

Wilkinson wasn't the only Big name signing really here is the list that they announced on the website yesterday

James Peter Robinson
Felipe Contepomi
Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe
Kris Chesney
Tim Ryan
Tom May
Dewald Meyer Senekal
Joe El-Abd
Clément Marienval
Rory Lamont
Christian Loamanu
Tonga Sinih'olani Ofahen'gaue Lea'aetoa
Jonny Wilkinson
Sébastien Bruno
Laurent Emmanuelli
Pierre Mignoni.

Some very good players there the standouts obviously being Wilkinson,Contepomi,Lobbe,Lamont and Mignoni. Even some of the other players like Chesney Bruno and El Abd and Tom May are useful enough. Don't really know whether they have the depth to compete with the big French clubs but should be interesting to see how they get on next season anyway.

Very interesting, there are a good few top quality players there... The Toulon experiment has'n succeeded so far, but when you look at that squad it's difficult to see it fail...

thomond2006

I'm annoyed that the IRFU let Tim Ryan go. They should have made an effort to make him go to Connacht.

I don't blame the guy for leaving though, better salary, better lifestyle.

NoelJ

I read that as Juan Martin Fernandez and was like still amazing cover for Wilkinson. Gonna be good to see how they play. Umagas coming back too aint he?

danthefan

Robinson, Contepomi, Wilkinson, Tom May. They've signed 4 outhalves.

thomond2006

NoelJ wrote: »

I read that as Juan Martin Fernandez and was like still amazing cover for Wilkinson. Gonna be good to see how they play.

Ah, hold on a second. You have it all wrong.

Toulon are signing Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, a back rower of Sale Sharks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Martin_Fernandez_Lobbe

You're thinking of Juan Martin Hernandez of Stade Francais.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Mart%C3%ADn_Hern%C3%A1ndez

thomond2006

danthefan wrote: »

Robinson, Contepomi, Wilkinson, Tom May. They've signed 4 outhalves.

Jamie Robinson is a centre. :cool:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Robinson

[Jackass]

ALH-06 wrote: »

Very interesting, there are a good few top quality players there... The Toulon experiment has'n succeeded so far, but when you look at that squad it's difficult to see it fail...

I hope it fails. Nothing would make me happier than seeing the "Toloun experiment" fail miserabley and a whole load of journeymen clean them out.

The football and Chelsea element has no place in our sport and it's clear to see how much it ruins the sport if you look at English football (growing up I was as big a football fan as I was a rugby fan and played both, I haven't followed English football for years now and have a passing interest in LOI, but not overly interested in the sport anymore).

The system of players deciding where they want to go, like it is now, is the best thing for the sport. The big contract deals are already creeping into the game over here (Doug Howlett, CJ Van Der Linde etc.) and while it is capped by the IRFU to a small group for any province, it's already taken hold in GP (to the clear detrement of the national team) and sides like Ospreys are trying to do it and it's a big factor in France growing now, I hope it all fails and the sport doesn't go that way....

A certain amount is to be expected in a professional game, but hopefully no super clubs like Chelsea or Toloun!!

Stev_o

danthefan wrote: »

Robinson, Contepomi, Wilkinson, Tom May. They've signed 4 outhalves.

A centre, a 12, a 10 and a universal back who stumbled into form at 10.

Serenity Now!

The mad cartoonist in Toulon doing his bit for French rugby, eh?

Stev_o

Serenity Now! wrote: »

The mad cartoonist in Toulon doing his bit for French rugby, eh?

Can't find it but i read recently that the majority of teams in France now have a squad of 60% who can't play for France ie Foreigners and from just watching French teams now and again chances are that they will start a foreigner ahead of a Frenchman. Just waiting for them to get beaten by Scotland in the 6N and the cycle will be complete. Their pretty much screwed for 2011 their talent pool is so very slim.

sm.org

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'm annoyed that the IRFU let Tim Ryan go. They should have made an effort to make him go to Connacht.

I don't blame the guy for leaving though, better salary, better lifestyle.

I think it'll be the making of him to be honest. If he stayed at Munster he'd be lucky to get 10 games a season and at Connacht , where he wouldn't be guaranteed a start, it would be ML and ECC. At least at Toulon he'll get plenty of game time in the most scrum focused league in the world.

siltirocker

sm.org wrote: »

I think it'll be the making of him to be honest. If he stayed at Munster he'd be lucky to get 10 games a season and at Connacht , where he wouldn't be guaranteed a start, it would be ML and ECC. At least at Toulon he'll get plenty of game time in the most scrum focused league in the world.

I couldn't say it better myself. I really do doubt if he could get into Connachts pack. But Toulon could be perfect for him!

danthefan

Ahhh I was thinking of Nicky Robinson, who is a 10.

anonymous_joe

danthefan wrote: »

Ahhh I was thinking of Nicky Robinson, who is a 10.

He's going to Gloucester.

Are the Robinsons brothers or what?

Stev_o

anonymous_joe wrote: »

He's going to Gloucester.

Are the Robinsons brothers or what?

Indeed they are.

thomond2006

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'm annoyed that the IRFU let Tim Ryan go. They should have made an effort to make him go to Connacht.

I don't blame the guy for leaving though, better salary, better lifestyle.

Toulon are probably paying him alot more than he would get in Ireland and alot more than hes worth.

He has done nothing of note to deserve the IRFU trying to match a French paycheck.

He will also become a better prop in France where its the best scrummaging league in the world.

danthefan

anonymous_joe wrote: »

He's going to Gloucester.

Are the Robinsons brothers or what?

Going to Gloucester is career suicide at the moment imo. Bad move.

anonymous_joe

Stev_o wrote: »

Indeed they are.

Cool, thought so, but wasn't certain.

danthefan wrote: »

Going to Gloucester is career suicide at the moment imo. Bad move.

Probably. They could always improve though, they've gotten rid of a rake of players, so depending on what they bring in it's hard to say.

Certainly Nicky Robinson's a good signing.

Chucky the tree

I presume robinson will be pushed out to 2nd centre? If JW actually manages to tay injury free England will be a force again unfortunatly.

Crash

Umaga still going to be player/coach or is that still up in the air? last i read it was undecided.

Stev_o

Crash wrote: »

Umaga still going to be player/coach or is that still up in the air? last i read it was undecided.

He's playing for them, thought John Connolly was coaching them now

ScrubsfanChris

At the moment they wont even be in the Heineken Cup next year.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/rugby/top-14/2008-2009/tables/

justsomebloke

this just has the french rugby version of middelsbourgh written all over it

jam_on_toast

Joe the Santa wrote: »

this just has the french rugby version of middelsbourgh written all over it

i dont recall middlesborough signing any world class players. admittedly, a lot of them are near the end of careers but they are by no means over the hill. If they can gel, they will be very good.

danthefan

jam_on_toast wrote: »

i dont recall middlesborough signing any world class players. admittedly, a lot of them are near the end of careers but they are by no means over the hill. If they can gel, they will be very good.

Juninho!

anonymous_joe

Joe the Santa wrote: »

this just has the french rugby version of middelsbourgh written all over it

More like Real Madrid. It might work.

People pour scorn on Toulon, but seriously, if they put a team together it could be awesome.

justsomebloke

anonymous_joe wrote: »

if they put a team together it could be awesome.

Or it could be a financial disaster for them too. I just think bringing in players like Contemponi and Wilkinson is just a gamble seen as though both are past the prime and given that they aren't even in europe next year it will be another year before we can truly see how well they gel

anonymous_joe

Joe the Santa wrote: »

Or it could be a financial disaster for them too. I just think bringing in players like Contemponi and Wilkinson is just a gamble seen as though both are past the prime and given that they aren't even in europe next year it will be another year before we can truly see how well they gel

Well if your man's money holds up they'll be grand.

The ex-pros could help stabilise and grow, then allow the signing of a few younger lads, the Sonny Bills etc and you can establish some continuity...

legal eagle 1

I for one cant wait to see Toulon's new team in action, particulary Jonny Wilkinson....I think the new environment and challenge will bring out the best in him. I hope this experiment works and if nothing else its bringing a bit of diversity to the rugby world which is well needed!