The rumours have been confirmed: Matt Giteau has signed with French Rugby club Toulon for the 2012 season. Giteau will join the cashed-up club following the Rugby World Cup.
He has carefully chosen the dates for his Toulon contract, penning an 18-month deal which ensures he is able to return to Australia for the British and Irish Lions tour in Australia in 2013.
He joins veteran five-eighth Jonny Wilkinson at the club, who re-signed in recent weeks, along with ex-Wallaby George Smith.
The move comes as Giteau takes up the captaincy of the Brumbies for the first time this year, ahead of the team’s first game of the Super Rugby season against the Chiefs on Saturday, February 19th at Canberra Stadium.
Despite the impending departure of Giteau, the ARU has managed to avoid a mass exodus of players following the World Cup, with Stephen Moore, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Drew Mitchell and Ben Alexander all re-signing with Australian Rugby for two years, ensuring a strong squad for the upcoming British and Irish Lions tour.
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February 15th 2011 @ 11:32am
Marki said | February 15th 2011 @ 11:32am | Report comment
Farewell Gits. You’ve been good to us, even if you are much maligned. Hope Toulon pays you enough, and makes you get rid of that beard looking thing you’ve got going on!
Marki.
February 15th 2011 @ 11:53am
p.Tah said | February 15th 2011 @ 11:53am | Report comment
I’m with you Marki. Good luck Gits you have been good for us. Despite what KOG says below, I think most teams in world rugby would want him on their roster.
February 15th 2011 @ 11:37am
King of the Gorgonites said | February 15th 2011 @ 11:37am | Report comment
au revoir. overated and never delivered when we needed him.
dont worry about coming back for the lions tour. your are not needed and not welcome.
February 15th 2011 @ 12:25pm
kovana said | February 15th 2011 @ 12:25pm | Report comment
Harsh KOG.. Harsh.
But to each his own.
February 15th 2011 @ 11:45am
jameswm said | February 15th 2011 @ 11:45am | Report comment
Toulon have a record of signing the best known and most expensive players.
Don’t know about the chemistry with Wilko – both left-footers and neither attacks the line much these days.
Back in early 2013 I assume, to play some or all of the S15. Hopefully Barnes and Cooper are still here.
February 15th 2011 @ 11:48am
GavinH said | February 15th 2011 @ 11:48am | Report comment
toulon: wilkinson, giteau, henson, hayman, smith. they’ll certainly sell some tickets!
February 15th 2011 @ 11:50am
p.Tah said | February 15th 2011 @ 11:50am | Report comment
Smith has gone to Japan now
February 15th 2011 @ 12:17pm
mudskipper said | February 15th 2011 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
I wish Matt Giteau all the best at Toulon and look forward to watching him play in the French Top 14 and Heineken Cup leagues… He always said he’d love the opportunity to play in France and in 2012 he can be rewarded for all his hard work.
Giteau has been a prominent player in Australian rugby over the past 10 years. It’s great to have him back with the Brumbies for this season before he goes north…
February 15th 2011 @ 12:34pm
Worlds Biggest said | February 15th 2011 @ 12:34pm | Report comment
Aside from Gits and Sharpe there aren’t too many others expected to head o/s after the World Cup. There isn’t the mass exodus everyone was expecting.
February 15th 2011 @ 2:49pm
TommyM said | February 15th 2011 @ 2:49pm | Report comment
I doubt very much that Sharpe will leave after the WC. He has stated that he intends to play for the Force beyond this year, and as he is career best form, I hope he does.
February 15th 2011 @ 12:43pm
Die hard said | February 15th 2011 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
What value now the captaincy and first five position at the Brumbies? After much review and in hindsight I realised that nearly all of the great Giteau moments were off the broad sholders of Larkham. Now there was a man and player to measure against! Sure he zipped in a few of his own over the years but not often the match winner or match turner. Certainly not enough to give any special rememberance memories. All spoilt anyway by the last several years of overpaid and average performances. But it is for the lack of character, overblown ego and selfishness that he should just pack up and go now. Give the other talent a go (both at playing and earning a decent wage)I can’t see him figuring in Robbie Deans plans for the World Cup anyway, even as a reserve.
February 15th 2011 @ 12:56pm
gluckers said | February 15th 2011 @ 12:56pm | Report comment
Mate, I think you summed it up perfectly!! In his prime (3 years back) he played with great flair and was electric. And also a very good defender. I think two things happened — 1. The opposition got wise to his jinks and steps and shut him down, and 2. He became very complacent. He was never a five-eighth – disappointing that the Brumbies are playing him there. I thought Matt Tomooa improved dramatically last year. As a Brumbies fan, very dejected….
February 15th 2011 @ 1:29pm
warrenexpatinnz said | February 15th 2011 @ 1:29pm | Report comment
Hope Gits has a final year to remember, the prospect of change may free his shackles a bit? which will be good for the Brumbies and the Wallabies.
Oh and if someone in the ARU could implement their formula for signing players so that their 100% focus could be on the games at hand rather than having guys still signing up to, and past Super 15 kickoff and then into a RWC year annoys the crap out of me.
100% focus is a funny thing, as when acheived it can make a good player great and when not acheived, well it makes an almost great player such as Giteau look like more of an under achiever, but hell what would I know? I never, ever got close to that level of representing my country against the best teams, players in the world and then on occasions being rated best on ground. Well done Mat, you did your best and hopefully one humdinger is left come RWC finals time.
February 15th 2011 @ 1:37pm
ilikedahoodoogurusingha said | February 15th 2011 @ 1:37pm | Report comment
“hopefully one humdinger is left come RWC finals time.”
I’d settle for around about16th July!!
February 15th 2011 @ 1:32pm
ballboy said | February 15th 2011 @ 1:32pm | Report comment
Die Hard and King of G are the ones showing the lack of character. You can’t help but shoot off at the mouth to a bloke who has played 91 tests for Australia.
A couple of points about his past few seasons if I may since some of you either have short memories or are really blinded to the man’s achievements..
2010 – not the best of years for him granted but he filled the 10 and 12 spots for Brumbies and Wallabies when there wasn’t much else there. Most consistent goal kicker in S14. 6th highest points scorer in S14
2010 – named as one of two Australian players in the International team of the decade.
2009 – nominated as one of 7 international players to be considered for International Player of the Year. The panel consisted of Will Greenwood, Gavin Hastings, Raphael Ibanez, Francois Pienaar, Agustin Pichot, Scott Quinnell, Tana Umaga and Paul Wallace, which was chaired by John Eales.
These guys know a thing or two about rugby.
So I’ll take my hat off and say well done Gits, thanks for the service you have given to Australian rugby over the years.
February 15th 2011 @ 2:27pm
Jerry said | February 15th 2011 @ 2:27pm | Report comment
“one of two Australian players in the International team of the decade”
Was he really? That’s absurd.
February 15th 2011 @ 6:41pm
mudskipper said | February 15th 2011 @ 6:41pm | Report comment
Well said Balboy… Jerry is likely a jilted force supporter I suspect… A couple of others also hiding in the thread… Gits has served Australian rugby generously and he excelled… these guys are bang’n on about untruths… Its a little low…
February 15th 2011 @ 2:02pm
AndyS said | February 15th 2011 @ 2:02pm | Report comment
All the best to him. If he comes back and can break back into the side on merit, all the better. Right now though, I only hope he heads overseas as a RWC holder. Worry about 2013 when it comes.