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Toulon confirm worst kept transfer secret of the season
By Neil Fissler
Toulon have finally officially confirmed the worst-kept news of last season. They are taking England stars Kyle Sinckler and Lewis Ludlam to the Cote d’Azur this summer.
Bristol Bears tight-head Sinckler, 31, who started his career with Harlequins and has won 69 England caps and another seven for The Lions on two tours, arrives on a three-year deal.
A World Cup finalist in 2019 and a member of Steve Borthwick’s squad that finished third in France last year, he admitted that he was honoured to represent a club as special as Toulon.
“I will give the best of myself to represent the Red & Black jersey with dignity. I also want to test myself in the best championship and against the best props every weekend and to be able to contribute to Toulon's future successes.”
Toulon’s sporting director, Laurent Emmanuelli, added: “Kyle is a player who combines power, skill and explosiveness. He is aware of the consequent challenge that awaits him in Top 14.”
Meanwhile, back-row Ludlam, 28, has also signed a three-year deal fresh from helping Northampton Saints lift the Premiership trophy against Bath at Twickenham.
The 6'3, 111kg Ludlam, who can play anywhere across the back row, was tipped for the Lions tour to Australia. He made 126 appearances for Saints, his only club, and was capped 24 times by England.
Emmanuelli admitted that Ludlam was a player they had been interested in for some time and are finally glad to have completed the signing.
“Lewis is a player we have been following for some time. Always present at the forefront of the fight, a good defender, able to provide solutions in touch and scratch balls, Lewis is one of the players of character as our supporters love them. “He also has significant leadership qualities since he has been the captain of the Saints for three seasons now.”
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Latest Comments
It is if he thinks he’s got hold of the ball and there is at least one other player between him and the ball carrier, which is why he has to reach around and over their heads. Not a deliberate action for me.
Go to commentsI understand, but England 30 years ago were a set piece focused kick heavy team not big on using backs.
Same as now.
South African sides from any period will have a big bunch of forwards smashing it up and a first five booting everything in their own half.
NZ until recently rarely if ever scrummed for penalties; the scrum is to attack from, broken play, not structured is what we’re after.
Same as now.
These are ways of playing very ingrained into the culture.
If you were in an English club team and were off to Fiji for a game against a club team you’d never heard of and had no footage of, how would you prepare?
For a forward dominated grind or would you assume they will throw the ball about because they are Fijian?
A Fiji way. An English way.
An Australian way depends on who you’ve scraped together that hasn’t been picked off by AFL or NRL, and that changes from generation to generation a lot of the time.
Actually, maybe that is their style. In fact, yes they have a style.
Nevermind. Fuggit I’ve typed it all out now.
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