Toulon target free agent Taylor

Editor

Toulon are interested in signing Crusaders back Tom Taylor following Quade Cooper's decision to stay in Australia, according to reports.

Taylor had signed a three-year deal with Bayonne to join the side for the start of the 2015/2016 season.

However with Bayonne being relegated from the Top 14, Taylor has escaped his contract and is now a free agent.

Cooper was due to join to Toulon later this year but is now set to stay in Australia by signing a new four-year contract and buying his way out of his deal with the European champions.

La Provence suggest that Toulon may simply look to sign Taylor as a joker to cover during the Rugby World Cup period, with the publication also reporting that Mike Harris and Andrew Horrell will now be joining on short-term contracts at the same time.

Toulon have already signed 39-year-old winger Sireli Bobo as a World Cup joker to cover for the absences of Bryan Habana and Drew Mitchell.