Share

Tulou eyes France spot

Montpellier - Samoan-born former New Zealand sevens international Alex Tulou has his sights set on gaining a place in the France team, he admitted on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old -- who plays his club rugby for French powerhouses Montpellier -- had already attracted the attention of France coach Philippe Saint-Andre for the tour of New Zealand in 2013 but had to turn it down as he was ineligible having played for the New Zealand Sevens side against Tunisia.

However, due to a change in the rules of governing body the International Rugby Board (IRB), Tulou, who has applied for a French passport, is now available for selection.

"If I had the chance to play for France it would be huge and a great pleasure," said Tulou, who has been with Montpellier since February 2011 following an initial six-month spell in France with Bourgoin.

"It would give me the opportunity to play at the highest level," he added.

Tulou, scorer of 19 tries in 76 games for Montpellier, said he wants to remain in France after his career is over.

"France is my life, I am happy here, and I would like to remain in the country after my rugby career is over," he said.

Tulou's chances of winning a first cap in the November tests -- the French begin against Fiji in Marseille on November 8 -- are pretty high as France have thus far won three and lost five of their Test matches this year.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
loading... Live
Dolphins 0
Warriors RSA 27/1
loading... Live
Pakistan 46/3
New Zealand 178/7
Voting Booth
Should the Proteas pick Faf du Plessis for the T20 World Cup in West Indies and the United States in June?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Faf still has a lot to give ...
65% - 414 votes
No! It's time to move on ...
35% - 226 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE