Toulouse nab 6'10, 120kg Wallabies lock

Brumbies lock Rory Arnold has announced that he will sign for French club Toulouse after the end of the 2019 Super Rugby Season.

Arnold, who has nineteen caps for his country and is expected to push for a place at the Rugby World Cup in Japan this season, has been an integral part of the Brumbies since joining the club in 2015.

Once the tallest player in Super Rugby, the hulking 2.08m forward made his Brumbies debut in the season opening 47-3 hammering of the Reds back in 2015 and has since been a mainstay of the team as they push towards a third Super Rugby crown.

“Rory has the made the decision that he feels is best for the longevity of his rugby career,” Brumbies CEO Phil Thomson commented.

“We would like to extend our best wishes to Rory and thank him for his commitment to the Brumbies for the past four seasons. We are looking forward to him performing strongly for us during the 2019 Super Rugby season.”

“We have no doubt that Rory will put in his usual dedicated and high-energy displays this season as part of Dan McKellar’s continuing evolution of the Brumbies playing style.”

Cutting his teeth in the Currie Cup with Griquas, where he scored a try on debut, Rory Arnold was first selected for Australia in their 2016 series against England. He was a virtual ever-present in 2018, joined by his brother Richie in the National Capital, and scored a memorable try against the Reds.

Rory says of his move "I’ve come to the decision that the 2019 season will be my last in Canberra. It was a very hard decision to make. The Brumbies have been great to me on and off the field and I’ll always be grateful for that. 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”.

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