There were a flurry of reports yesterday and this morning indicating that Toulon were intent on bringing Paul O'Connell to the south of France where he could play out the twilight of his career.
While it seemed that O'Connell was a trifle youthful to be considered for a role in the Toulon pack, there were some heavy-hitters asserting that the French club had made a move. French newspaper Var-matin reported that Toulon were 'advanced talks' with O'Connell and Gerry Thornley wrote that Toulon were to offer O'Connell a two year contract.
Today the rumours have been scotched fairly definitively by the club themselves.
The club say in the statement that they are accustomed to all sorts of rumours regarding future recruits, but they still felt the need to deny reports that they were about to sign O'Connell.
The Rugby Club Toulon cautions that Paul O'Connell has not signed a contract with Toulon Rugby Club and the alleged contacts between the player and the Red and Black are pure speculation
