During its back-to-school press conference, RC Toulon announced the arrival of second line Sitaleki Timani but also that Mathieu Bastareaud was going to train with the Toulon players, before his possible signing.
The Top 14 season only starts in two months, but it was this Tuesday that RC Toulon held its back-to-school press conference and revealed the names of its recruits. Most of them were already known: Dany Priso, Teddy Baubigny, Waisea Nayacalevu, Benoit Paillaugue, Ihaia West, Jérémy Sinzelle… But a surprise has appeared in the rookie list for 2022-23. This is Sitaleki Timani. The 35-year-old second line, selected 18 times for the Wallabies from 2011 to 2013, had been playing since 2021 at the Western Force, in Perth, but he has not played in competition for a year, the Australian franchise having broken his contract last February because he was not vaccinated against covid and therefore did not have the right to play in Super Rugby. Previously, the Australian had spent eight years in France, wearing the Montpellier jersey from 2013 to 2016, then Clermont from 2016 to 2021. He also won the Top 14 in 2017 with ASM, with the current RCT manager Frank Azéma, and the Challenge Cup with MHR in 2016 and with ASM in 2019. Sitaleki Timani has signed a two-year contract with RCT, which could well be the last club of his career.
Bastareaud, it’s in the pipeline
During Tuesday’s press conference, the Toulon staff made no secret of their intention to sign Mathieu Bastareaud (33), seriously injured in both knees last November, but who could return to the club whose he defended the colors from 2011 to 2019 if he regains form. “It’s in the pipes. We would like to see him back on the pitch. We want to help him so he can play again. He’s not a rookie today. We give ourselves the opportunity, all together, to say yes. If we do it, it’s good for the club and the institution. It will be at position number 8. I practiced it at this position. He did well. It will be a very good thing, ”admitted the new sports director of the RCT, Pierre Mignoni, who was his coach in Lyon.