Top 14

Toulon bring in Samu Manoa on four-year deal

ESPN Staff

Samu Manoa is off to Toulon © Getty Images Enlarge

Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal has confirmed the signing of Northampton star Samu Manoa on a four-year deal.

A day after Toulon revealed they have signed All Blacks centre Ma'a Nonu and Clermont winger Napolioni Nalaga, Boudjellal has revealed two more signings with Manoa and Salesi Ma'afu both journeying to the double European champions at the end of the season.

In an interview following Toulon's win over Lyon on Saturday, Boudjellal tipped Manoa to be a star of the Top 14. He said: "Samu Manoa is the first four-year contract that I have signed.

"For me, he will become the star of the Top 14. He is a rugby phenomenon, made for Mayol. He is a player we spotted a few months ago. We contacted him and his agent said he had been approached by all the clubs in the Top 14 and England and that the only offer he could take was that of Toulon."

Boudjellal rates Ma'afu as one of the best "props in the English league" and he will work with Diego Dominguez from January next season after Toulon confirmed him as the eventual replacement for Bernard Laporte.

Dominguez will arrive at Toulon in January 2016 on a one-and-a-half year deal and will shadow Laporte for six months before then taking the reins at the end of the season. Boudjellal said Dominguez will be one of the lowest-paid coaches in the league.

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