Toulon hook another All Black

Nathan Mauger: the latest Kiwi to head to Toulon

Big spending French Pro D2 club RC Toulon have recruited former All Blacks centre Nathan Mauger as a medical joker.

Mauger will join the club as a replacement for Gabiriele Lovobalavu who has a shoulder injury which requires an operation and a four month layoff.

30-year-old Mauger will pass a medical examination on Tuesday to formalise the deal after arriving in France from Air New Zealand Cup side Hawke's Bay.

Weighing 98kg and standing 1,84m, the powerful centre has twice pulled on the All Blacks jersey (against Ireland A and Scotland A in 2001) but, unlike his brother Aaron (38 caps), has never played a test.

A former team-mate of current Toulon fly-half and former All Blacks legend Andrew Mehrtens at Christchurch High School Old Boys RFC and the 2002 Super 12 winning Crusaders, Mauger has also played a season each for Gloucester in England and Ricoh Black Rams in Japan.

Anecdotally, Mauger has French heritage on his mother's side.

Meanwhile, according to French daily L'Equipe Toulon are at the head of a pack of European clubs vying for the signature of All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter.

Carter is said to have been offered a deal worth 700,000 Euros plus a guaranteed 100,000 Euros as a percentage of the sales of merchandise bearing his name.

The name of Sharks fly-half Frédéric Michalak has also been linked to a move to Toulon, who are almost certain to play in the Top 14 next year.