Southern trek to France continues

France's Euro-wielding Top 14 clubs continue to attract players from the Southern hemisphere with Western Province lock Francois van der Merwe joining Toulon and Cheetahs scrum-half Falie Oelschig signing with Stade Français.

France's Euro-wielding Top 14 clubs continue to attract players from the Southern hemisphere with Western Province lock Francois van der Merwe joining Toulon and Cheetahs scrum-half Falie Oelschig signing with Stade Français.

Toulon have signed or been linked with a host of other southern hemisphere players recently including Rugby League stars Luke Rooney from the Penrith Panters and Sonny Bill Williams from the Canterbury Bulldogs.

Fellow Kiwi League player David Vaealiki will join Albi from the Manly Sea Eagles.

Van der Merwe will join former WP team-mate Tiaan Liebenberg, who signed for Toulon after the Super 14.

WP coach Allister Coetzee denied rumours that other top players such as Ross Skeate and Dylan des Fountain would be moving to France, but conceded Van der Merwe will be joining Toulon immediately.

In other Top 14 transfer news, Stade Français flanker Remy Martin, who won three French championships with Parisian club, has signed a three-year contract with Bayonne while former international lock David Auradou returns to Stade from Paris's other club Racing Metro, who failed to win promotion to the Top 14.