Toulon Have Completed Another Controversial Signing
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Rugby League star Semi Radradra will leave the Parramatta Eels at the end of the 2017 season to join French rugby union side Toulon.
The Rugby League side did everything within their power to try and secure the 24-year-old to a contract beyond next season but were unable to compete with the financial might from the south of France.
The move will no doubt be seen as another controversial one on Toulon’s part with Radradra still having to face domestic violence charges in court next month. The French club are so strangers to controversy having completed questionable deals for the likes of Sonny Bill Williams and Quade Cooper over the years.
The French side have also signed up troubled England and Saracens winger Chris Ashton for next season.
Parramatta alerted its members to the news by email with the following statement:
“The Parramatta Eels Rugby League Club have been advised by George Christodoulou, the manager of Semi Radradra, that Semi has accepted an offer to play rugby union for the Toulon Rugby Club for the 2017/2018 European rugby season, with an option for a second year being the 2018/2019 season,” the statement read.
“This option for the second season is in favour of Semi Radradra. The European rugby season operates from approximately August through May.
“Semi has a court appearance on 13 February 2017. As advised previously to Semi and his manager, Semi will fulfil his 2017 Playing Contract with the Parramatta Eels as the Club will not release Semi from his 2017 obligations to our Club; accordingly, the earliest Semi could commence at Toulon is early November 2017.
“In early December 2016 the Parramatta Eels indicated our wish to keep Semi at our Club by making a very attractive offer to Semi for the 2017 (upgrade of existing contract), 2018 & 2019 NRL seasons.
“The offer from Toulon was substantially higher than our Club’s offer. We look forward to Semi being a most productive member of the 2017 Parramatta Eels playing squad and then we wish Semi well in his rugby union venture with Toulon.”
