Rugby
Michalak to join Toulon
2011-12-24 11:00
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Toulon - Former French international flyhalf Frederic Michalak, who is currently on the books of the Sharks in South Africa, has reached a verbal agreement on a three-year contract to play for Toulon.
"Nothing has been signed but there is a verbal agreement on a contract for three years," said Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal, who added that the deal would start on July 1, 2012.
"I think he will be a Toulon player next season. He has been impressed by the chance to play with Jonny Wilkinson and Matt Giteau. We need four to five players of a very high level and, if he signs, Fred will be the start of that."
With Wilkinson dominant at flyhalf, Boudjellal said that Michalak would feature at scrumhalf.
"It's a good thing," said coach Bernard Laporte. "We have been talking for a month. He is a name and this will be his last sporting challenge.
"He will come and play at scrumhalf, he knows that. His age and experience will help him in this position."
Michalak, 29, played scrumhalf as well as outside-half at Toulouse before he left for the Sharks where he had already played in 2008, winning the Currie Cup in the process.
At Toulouse, where he made his debut in 1998, Michalak won the French title in 2001 and three European Cups in 2003, 2005 and 2010.
He played 54 times for France, featuring in the 2003 and 2007 World Cups, but hasn't played for the national side since March 2010.