Toulouse target current All Black as replacement for Charlie Faumuina
Toulouse are said to be on the hunt for a like-for-like replacement for giant former All Blacks prop Charlie Faumuina, who has announced his coming retirement from the sport.
Faumuina has confirmed that he will call time on his career at Toulouse come the end of the current Top 14 season.
The 6'1, 130kg Faumuina signed for Toulouse back in 2017 and has since enjoyed five fruitful seasons with the club.
The big tighthead turns 36 next month and is yet to decide whether he will continue on in France in a coaching capacity or if he will return to New Zealand.
Faumuina is one of the heaviest All Blacks of all time, with only the 136kg Neemia Tialata and 135kg Karl Tu’inukuafe tipping the scale at a heavier weight.
According to Midi Olympique, Toulouse are in the market for a replacement of a similar calibre and have their eyes on Nepo Laulala.
Last month Laulala committed to New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the Blues through to the end of 2023. The 30-year-old prop has played 43 Tests and is one game away from bringing up 100 Super Rugby caps, having played 73 matches for the Crusaders and Chiefs, and 26 for the Blues.
A trained builder and the younger brother of former All Blacks centre Casey, Laulala was born in Samoa, educated at Auckland’s Wesley College and is one of eight siblings.
A spot at the French giants after the Rugby World Cup is stage in France seems to make a lot of sense for both parties.
Toulouse were crowned Top 14 champions last season and boast a playing roster that includes such talents as Julien Marchand, Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack.
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Hi Nick. Thanks for your +++ ongoing analysis. Re Vunivalu, He’s been benched recently and it will be interesting to see what Kiss does with him as we enter the backend of SRP. I’m still not sold.
Go to commentsIn the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
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