Just as it seemed as though Mourad Boudjellal was losing his vigour, the comic book magnate dispensed with the idea of selling Toulon and began to re-invest in a club that looked to be going backwards.

Since appointing Mike Ford as coach back in October, Boudjellal has been assembling a squad of players that has the potential to challenge for honours both in the Top 14 and Europe. Among those said to be leaving the club are Matt Giteau, Juan Smith, Drew Mitchell, Maxime Mermoz and Juandré Kruger, while James O’Connor’s future looks to be hanging by a thread.

In their place have already come eight players, with rumours also linking Toulon with a move for Malakai Fekitoa. If the All Black centre were to make the move to the Stade Mayol, he would join Chris Ashton, Raphaël Lakafia, Filipo Nakosi, Hugo Bonneval, Semi Radradra, Jonathan Wisniewski, Ben Barba and the hugely powerful Facundo Isa at the Stade Mayol next season.

However, gaps remain in the Toulon squad, particularly in the front five, where they have been unable to dominate sides this season. This raises the prospect of Boudjellal bringing in further players before the 2017/18 season kicks off.

[tie_slideshow]

[tie_slide]1. Xavier Chiocci

[/tie_slide]

[tie_slide]2. Guilhem Guirado

[/tie_slide]

[tie_slide]3. Levan Chilachava

 

[/tie_slide]

[tie_slide]4. Samu Manoa

[/tie_slide]

[tie_slide]5. Mamuka Gorgodze

[/tie_slide]

[tie_slide]6. Facundo Isa

[/tie_slide]

[tie_slide]7. Liam Gill

 

[/tie_slide]

[tie_slide]8. Duane Vermeulen

[/tie_slide]

[tie_slide]9. Sébastien Tillous-Borde

[/tie_slide]

[tie_slide]10. François Trinh-Duc

[/tie_slide]

[tie_slide]11. Chris Ashton

 

[/tie_slide]

[tie_slide]12. Ma’a Nonu

[/tie_slide]

[tie_slide]13. Josua Tuisova

[/tie_slide]

[tie_slide]14. Semi Radradra

[/tie_slide]

[tie_slide]15. Hugo Bonneval

[/tie_slide]

[/tie_slideshow]

Alan Drumm, Pundit Arena

On this week’s Oval Office Podcast, Jacques Burger talks about his battle with depression, Benetton Treviso’s Ian McKinley reviews Italy’s performance against England and Daniel Killick of The Attacking Scrum tells us what’s gone wrong with Wales.

https://soundcloud.com/punditarenarugby/we-chat-to-ian-mckinley-jacques-burger-and-daniel-killick-of-the-attacking-scrum

Read More About: Ben Barba, chris ashton, drew mitchell, facundo isa, Filipo Nakosi, Hugo Bonneval, Jonathan Wisniewski, juan smith, Juandré Kruger, matt giteau, Maxime Mermoz, mike ford, Mourad Boudjellal, Raphaël Lakafia, Semi Radradra, Top 14, Top Story, Toulon