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Toulon to trade Tolofua for potential Biggar replacement - report
By Josh Raisey
Toulon are on the verge of making a midseason player exchange with Top 14 strugglers Montpellier, according to Midi Olympique.
France's eight-cap hooker Christopher Tolofua, 30, will be traded for Montpellier and Italy fly-half Paolo Garbisi in the coming days, as Toulon seek to find a replacement for Dan Biggar.
The report says that the former Wales captain is struggling with a back injury, and may be forced to retire. Whether Biggar is forced to retire or not, this is forward thinking by the three-time European champions with the Italian being eleven years the junior of the Welshman, at the age of 23.
Montpellier currently sit at the foot of the Top 14 table, having won the league in 2022, and eye Tolofua as a player who could immediately arrest their slump. With Louis Carbonel in the squad, they may see Garbisi as a player that can afford to let go, particularly as he will be committed to Italy over the coming weeks in the Guinness Six Nations.
Tolofua's current deal with Toulon is set to expire at the end of the season, while the 31-cap Italian has another year-and-a-half left on his Montpellier deal, but Midi Olympique believe the negotiations are at a "very advanced stage".
Both clubs return to the Top 14 this weekend after two rounds of European action, with Montpellier hosting Pau on Saturday and Toulon hosting reigning Champions Cup winners La Rochelle later that day.
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I guess the other option would be to start ALB, he's looked good in the 12 so far when he starts and sets up those outside him. But that would mean putting the vice captain on the bench, which is unlikely. Another option would be to drop Reiko to the bench and play Proctor, though he's gone home so that's not going to happen either.
Both of those players just offer more of the soft distribution skills good centres learn from playing their careers there. Unfortunately that's what's lacking with the current combo.
Go to commentsWhatever let's see if this load of waffle is still valid in 2 years time. ABs will rise we have a lot of new talent coming through. The NPC was the highest standard for years. The game is changing to suit the fast pace we like to play. We get to play the Springboks more, including the franchises, which will make us better! Overall I am optimistic. I will add having watched the England game multiple times we made most of the play. England are an awesome physical team, but you can expect the All Blacks to get better and better at executing the chances. It could easily have been 5 tries to one instead of 3 to 1.
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