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Michalak signs for Toulouse

Thursday 15th May 2008

Fr�d�ric Michalak: Coming home

As anticipated, Fr�d�ric Michalak will return to former club Toulouse when his contract with the Sharks expires.

Michalak, who has spent 2008 playing for the Sharks in the Super 14 until a knee injury cut his tournament short, signed a three-year contract on Thursday in France.

He will return in October to the city he grew up in, after completing the Currie Cup in Natal.

"I just signed a three year contract with president Bouscatel and Stade Toulousain," Michalak told the Stade Toulousain website

"It's a return to my roots, and after thinking about it for a while, returning here, to this club. After my South African experience, it would seem evident how close le Stade is to my heart.

"I have my family and my friends in Toulouse and we all know that once we've played at this club, it's difficult to find better elsewhere.

"Toulouse are regularly in the running in big competitions and play in a lot of finals. These are wonderful adventures, and even if in sporting terms they don't always end perfectly, they still remain great memories."

Michalak's father is said to not have returned to Ernest Wallon stadium since the departure of his son, which struck a chord in the fly-half's heart.

"I'm happy, very very happy. And the people around me are also," he added.

The decision to return to the club with which he won the French Championship in 2001 and two European Cups in 2003 and 2005 wasn't not very difficult despite receiving lucrative offers from various English clubs as well as Toulon and Biarritz (rumours of offers of up to half a million Euros per season have been circling in France).

Only Biarritz were ever realistically in the running against the attraction of playing alongside close friends such as Clement Poitrenaud, Yannick Nyanga and Thierry Dusautoir and for trophies rather than money.

"I don't really want to talk about the financial aspects," said the French international.

"Sporting criteria guided my choice. It wasn't really very complicated, even if one should always listen to what everyone has to say. A while ago I was in a phase where I wanted to experience different things: in these conditions, going to experience the Super 14, which is a major competition, was like a dream.

"Leaving in that context was easy, but afterwards, coming back and wearing a jersey other than that of Toulouse wasn't easy to imagine. I had to think carefully to not make the wrong decision."

With Toulouse having already signed another former Toulouse prodigy, incumbent France fly-half David Skrela from Stade Fran�ais for next season, does Michalak expect to play at fly-half ?

"Yes, of course. I'll be one of two number tens, even if I could play at nine if I was asked. Either way, at this club you don't question where you play: you wear the jersey above all," he said.

"There will be competition, but there always has been at the club. It's what makes us work, it's what makes us move forward.

"That doesn't stop us from having human and friendly relationships away from the training field. David and I will work together so that Stade Toulousain wins."

With Skrela and Michalak set to compete for the number ten jersey, Valentin Courrent will no doubt soon be packing his bags. After having seen far less playing time than he had hoped for this season, Courrent has already been informed that he is free to sign elsewhere.

Toulouse are playing in the Heineken Cup Final on May 25 and they can count on Michalak's support.

"I've been behind them since the start of the season," he said.

"I know Toulouse, and I know that they're preparing in the best way, with a lot of humility. Munster is obviously a big team, but Toulouse has all the cards to come up trumps."