The unpredictable world of Toulon rugby club
sprung another huge surprise on Monday when head coach Tana Umaga announced
he would return to playing duties, at the none-too-tender age of 35.
A widely publicised press conference had been
expected to confirm Umaga's sacking in the wake of Toulon's continuing
struggles in Top 14 - they are currently 13th - but instead president Mourad
Boudjellal announced the former All Black legend was coming out of
retirement.
Boudjellal also confirmed that Umaga would keep
his coaching job at least until his contract ran out in 2010.
Former French captain Philippe Saint-Andre will
join the club in the summer, as expected, but in the role of Sporting
Director - the same position he currently holds at Guinness Premiership
outfit Sale Sharks.
But it was the news that Umaga, capped 79 times
by New Zealand, was planning a playing return in a bid to help Toulon avert
relegation that really stunned observers.
Boudjellal said the ex-international centre had
been in training for two months and would return to first-team action "when
he's ready".
It is a stunning move, and one that could
easily backfire, but perhaps Umaga feels the only way he can truly inspire
his charges is by showing them up on the pitch.
"Tana is a natural leader and the team has an
enormous respect for him," added Boudjellal.
Saint-Andre's summer arrival - in July - was
more mundane by comparison to the news of Umaga, but there's no doubt his
confirmed capture is a major coup for the Top 14 strugglers.
"I said after our defeat to Dax that I was
totally responsible for the mistakes in recruitment and that I was searching
for a mastermind," said the Toulon president. "I've found that mastermind;
Philippe Saint-Andre, who will be sporting director in charge notably of
recruitment and sporting structures. He will work in close collaboration
with manager Tana Umaga."
And it would seem that new recruitment policy
is already underway with Toulon announcing that Sale's French hooker
Sebastien Bruno will definitely be joining them next season, together with
Clermont's international scrum-half Pierre Mignoni.
Boudjellal further confirmed that Cheetahs
fly-half Conrad Barnard is due to arrive on Wednesday and that Pacific
Islanders prop Tonga Lea'aetoa is also heading their way. In addition the
club is seeking to tie Sonny Bill Williams and Joe van Niekerk to contract
extensions, with the latter being offered a new three-year deal.
Just another day in the life of French rugby's
most headline-hungry club.
