Joe Tomane will leave the Brumbies after the 2016 Super Rugby season to take up a contract with Montpellier in the French Top 14, the Brumbies confirmed today.
The winger will join Fijian powerhouse Nemani Nadolo in the French south to form what will be one of the biggest wing combinations in club rugby.
26-year-old Tomane has played 17 games for Australia and 68 games for the Brumbies, crossing for 25 tries.
Brumbies interim CEO Phil Thomson said he was disappointed to see Tomane go, but admitted they couldn’t compete with the money offered overseas.
“Joe is a talented player and someone who has made a great contribution to the Brumbies over the past five years,” Thomson said.
“His contributions to this club and the wider-Canberra community have made him one of the most popular players with fans who I’m sure will be sad to see him go.
“He has put his heart and soul into the Brumbies and we are very proud of his achievements. We hope that this won’t be last we see of Joe in Australian Rugby.”
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham said the club wanted to keep Tomane in the squad.
“Joe was having a great year before he injured his knee,” Larkham said.
“He was definitely in the mix for Wallabies selection for the England series before the injury, which is unfortunate because I know how much it means to him to represent his country.
“Whilst we are disappointed he will be leaving the club, there are limitations to what we are currently able to do if players garner overseas interest. In the end he felt this was his best option regarding his career and his family.”
The Brumbies are hopeful Tomane will recover in time for their game against the Blues this week.
Chronicle
Roar Rookie
You may be right really a matter of opinion what is known that he is a top scorer in Super rugby which his current peers play in so with those he is able to be compared he would certainly be in. It appears like you the ARU value a Rugby League winger higher than a current rugby player so difficult to blame him for leaving for greener pastures. Whilst the Rebels will benefit from the ARU contracting of a league winger the Brumbies will suffer from the loss of one of their star players there needs to some transparency in the ARU contracting to benefit all Australian clubs the sooner centralised contracting as per NZ is adopted the better.
Mike the Oz
Guest
Absolutely. At the moment those 32 ur olds are the best we have. I'd rank them in this order - 1. Drew Mitchell 2. AAC 3. Cummins 4. DHP 5. Horne 6. Tomane 7. Taqele Naiyaravoro
Markus
Guest
Who are your two starting wings with full availability? Tomane would be above Horne and DHP, the only others I can think of that would be preferred are the 32 year old Ashley-Cooper and Mitchell.
Bakkies
Guest
Nadolo, Tomane, Fall, M O'Connor, Nagusa some wing options for next season
Bakkies
Guest
He came from Rugby originally then on to the NRL
Jacko
Guest
Savea only missed a couple of tackles and he was hooked from the field just after half time
Johnno
Guest
Highly debatable that. Wingers who leak tries in, in the modern game are liabilities.
Jono
Guest
Would have probably had a bigger test career if not for seemingly getting injured on the eve of the test periods. Good luck Joe at the French Brumbies.
Mike the Oz
Guest
Not a big blow. For me he's not in the team if we have full availability. Brief patches of decent form at super 15 but never looked truly threatening at international level. I think he will genuinely struggle in the environment he's going in where the weight of expectation is high. Will be back before you know it. Also probably sees the recruitment of Koroibete who is a much better league player than Joe was and has enormous crossover potential to be a superstar in rugby and unlike previous ARU poaches, knows and has played the game, along with the moves for Radradra and Suliasi Vunivalu as the writing on the wall. He's just not quite there. Good luck to him
Boz the Younger
Guest
Except that wingers are primarily supposed to be great finishers.
Kingcowboy
Guest
Didn't this kid come through the Storm';s system and then play a couple of years with the Titans as well?
Ken Cathpole's Other Leg
Guest
Sorry to see you go Joe
chracol
Guest
You'd want these players to be around when they're at their peak because depth is critical. It must irk the ARU somewhat to see guys like Joe go not only for this reason but also because they have invested their (scarce) dollars in producing a player who a European or English club gets the best of.
AnD
Guest
Of course they are leaving then though, as that is their peak earning opportunity. It seems reasonable that Tomane would want to go, he isn't a first choice Wallaby and he can earn substantially more overseas, and enjoy a completely different lifestyle. We had better start getting used to it, as it's totally understandable why these players on the fringes are off.
mania
Guest
this is exactly why the clubs want them, whilst they're at their peak. in a couple of years you would see a couple 10's of thousands shaved off the contract. shame tomane doesn't come under the giteauRule threshold of 60 odd games, but thems the breaks.
Cynical Play
Guest
He was the best winger in Oz last year and I will really miss watching him go 'round. He may be back.. and then PLAY FOR THE TAHS !!!
Seb V
Guest
Another player leaving oversea's at the peak of their performances. I wish he had left earlier or later in his career. I don't mind players leaving overseas but I'm getting really frustrated with the timing that they are leaving, it seems more and more are leaving whilst they are playing their best rugby. Eg. Beale, Toomua, Higgers, Elsom. Wish they all chucked Giteau's or AAC's when they are just winding down on their career but still available for wallaby selection if we are desperate (which we are now).
ken
Guest
Great finisher but just cant tackle. The reverse of Rob Horne
Boz the Younger
Guest
Sad to see this guy go, but for all his injuries I reckon he had it in him to be one of the truly great Aussie wingers. Best wishes Joe and I hope we see you back in Oz one day.
J_D_J
Roar Rookie
I would have liked to have seen more of Tomane for the Wallabies. I hope his departure results in more opportunities for guys like Morahan, Speight (when not injured!), English et al