Toulon sign France lock

Editor

The exodus from newly-relegated Perpignan has begun with Toulon announcing the arrival of France lock Romain Taofifenua.

The exodus from newly-relegated Perpignan has begun with Toulon announcing the arrival of France lock Romain Taofifenua.

Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal said on Saturday that the French international had signed a two-year deal to join European champions from next season.

The 23-year-old will leave relegated Perpignan as the Catalans suffer their first relegation in 103 years.

Taofifenua had a clause in his contract allowing him to leave if Perpignan dropped into the ProD2.

His signing will add to a high-profile recruitment programme by the big-spending southerners who have also snared Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny from Cardiff, Montpellier scrum-half Eric Escande, Georgia loose forward Mamuka Gorgodze, Clermont flank Gerhard Vosloo and Perpignan hooker Guilhem Guirado.