Bryan Habana: Still a target?
Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal has said that if Jonny Wilkinson opts not to sign a new contract then he will not look to bring in a fly-half replacement.
According to rugbyrama, the big-spending club's chief does not feel they need to replace the former England international number 10 due to the fact Frederic Michalak and Matt Giteau can step in.
Instead it seems Boudjellal will attempt once again to bring wing Bryan Habana to Felix Mayol.
Boudjellal has long been an admirer of the busy Springbok but admitted there have been many stumbling blocks halting the prospected transfer.
He did say though that the arrival of the 29-year-old would be a massive boost to both the club and also the Top 14 competition as a whole.
Comments
sbobrfc says...
Jonny knows that Toulon are in good hands even without him in MG + FM, I'd love the idea of him playing Super rugby, but at the age of 34, it probably wouldn't be much of a relaxing retirement year! I can definately see him having a role with a Championship side, with a view to moving up the ladder to be a kicking coach/ other with England.
Posted 14:33 24th December 2012
ben7 says...
@ 5Lock4ward
Great idea. However i think he would suit the SA style of play more so perhaps one of their super rugby teams. Sharks have Lambie, Stormers now have Jantjies and Grant, Cheetahs have Goosen, Bulls have Morne steyn and the Kings have No One of note but i dont think he'll want to go there lol. Go to the Bulls i say because Steyn is now very average.
Regarding Habana i hope he stays in SA. Hes probably the biggest drawcard in SA rugby so it would be awful to see him go
Posted 23:51 12th December 2012
Kiwikev says...
JW is pure class and he won me a bunch of money in 2003!
Posted 19:29 12th December 2012
unebrindille says...
We hope JW will stay in Toulon as coach, if he decides he cannot compete anymore, not only as kicking coach but skills, vision... He already plays that part towards the younsters 2 or 3 times a week... Imagine all they learn with him?
Posted 18:50 12th December 2012
NHsaints says...
@JayStarr you'd think so, it depends however on if he's actually signed a deal with the super rugby franchise or the WP provincial side...if it's the provincial side then he could still fit it in with playing rugby in France...or just about. I'd like to see Wilkinson move to a developing side to wind down his career (like Spencer did)...somewhere like Melbourne or London Welsh...either way I'll eat my shoe (I don't own a hat) if Wilkinson doesn't retire into a kicking coach role for someone (probably toulon).
Posted 16:52 12th December 2012
TVaddict says...
@JayStarr
To be fair they're probably offering him triple or quadruple what he's getting now, so that's a huge amount of money to turn down. This is the year for him to do it, so he can come back and earn his shirt again in time for the next world cup. Then a year or two in Japan after that and he can retire a very rich man!
Wilkinson sounds like he's having the time of his life playing for Toulon so I can't see him retiring. His body is holding out, he still seems mentally fresh, and other players have played on for longer. Maybe he'll do what Catt did and be both, a player when needed but a coach most of the time.
Posted 16:20 12th December 2012
ste490 says...
Saints could do with a class 10. Here's hoping!
Posted 15:54 12th December 2012
5Lock4ward says...
I'd like to see Wilkinson give Super Rugby a shot. Perhaps in Perth or Melbourne, maybe even Auckland.
Posted 12:50 12th December 2012
Centre12 says...
I would have loved to have seen Wilko playing for one of the top English clubs like Leicester or Wasps back in the day, staying loyal to Newcastle for so long was admirable yet probably not best for him.
@Frooschman
He's still quite a big bit of the Toulon Jigsaw, that being said so are the rest of England's forgotten men at Toulon, I can't see him hanging up his boots just yet.
Posted 11:50 12th December 2012
Iyhel says...
From his recent interviews with the press, if Wilkinson doesn't renew his contract he will retire. That doesn't mean he quits Toulon, I can see him taking a coaching role there - I hated him when he played for England but I can only admit he has a great tactical vision and might be a good coach.
Posted 11:12 12th December 2012
JayStarr says...
What is it with these French clubs and starting rumours about poaching South African players ? This is just a blatant LIE! He should not even be talking about Habana as a possibility, because he is not. Habana recently signed a very high paying deal with Western Province (the Stormers) to play for them until 2014 - because that is what he wants to do. But even if they offer double the amount, I can't see Habana moving out of SA before 2015 while Heyneke Meyer is coach of the Springboks. How do you say "dream on" in French?
Posted 10:55 12th December 2012
jestnation says...
Back to the falcons perhaps?
Posted 09:30 12th December 2012
Frooschman says...
Given that JW will be 34 at the end of the season and that Toulon have the current France incumbent in Michalak, ably supported by a certain Matt Giteau it doesn't really look like they need him! Further, given that Meyer appears willing to pick overseas players if Louw's inclusion is anything to go by then why wouldn't Habana take a serious pay day?! Bet JW doesn't retire though!
Posted 09:25 12th December 2012
JamieTheProp says...
Will that be Wilko retiring then? Or a last hurrah back home in the premiership?
Posted 08:34 12th December 2012
leinster_goy says...
hmm
Posted 08:29 12th December 2012