Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal has revealed that France wing Virimi Vakatawa can repay his €125,000 fine to the club through instalments.

France’s Court of Appeals ruled on December 1 that Vakatawa would be forced to pay Toulon for failing to honour a contract agreement he signed back in 2013.

Vakatawa instead decided to take up an offer from the FFR, and has gone on to be a success for France both in Sevens and playing for his country since making his Test debut in the Six Nations.

Boudjellal told AFP: “Obviously he will be able to pay in instalments. There is an ounce of humanity at this club. He will have a timetable and we will not harass him.

“He signed a pre-contract with us back in 2013 and has not honoured it. The law is the same for both sides.

“I met him two times. We incurred some costs, including his agent’s fees.”

The case has been a simple matter, with Vakatawa’s lawyer saying that the wing was unable to defend himself in court after official letters regarding the matter failed to reach him, having been sent to old addresses or not been received by Vakatawa while he was away on international duty.

“The procedure took place without him being aware. He was sentenced without being able to defend himself,” said his lawyer Samuel Chevret.

Mr Chevret added that at the time when Vakatawa opted to not take up Toulon’s offer, the player’s belief was that there would be no reprecussions.

“When he chose not to go to Toulon, nobody said anything to him. He thought his decision was understood. He, having not heard anything, thought it was settled amicably. He believed it was all in good faith.”