Mourad Boudjellal, the owner of Toulon, has revealed that the club are weighing up the possibility of cancelling Wales star Leigh Halfpenny’s contract due to his persistent injuries.

The fullback has yet to make his debut for the club having sustained a groin injury in pre-season, although Boudjellal now claims Halfpenny may have been carrying the injury when he arrived at the club. He also missed the end of last season with an arm injury, but made a full recovery after undergoing surgery.

Toulon were initially treating the groin injury on a week-by-week basis, but it is understood now that it might need surgery, which would keep Halfpenny out for months, to the obvious frustration of Boudjellal.

“Today, we must address this issue because we need a world-class goalkicker. We’re awaiting the medical update,” the Toulon boss told local newspaper Varmatin.

“It should be out for another two or three weeks. But the problem that we have now is that we think he may have arrived at Toulon with that injury. Now we have the impression that yes, he was injured when he signed for Toulon.

“If this is the case, we haven’t ruled out terminating his contract. We pay enough for players (when they’re away) for their national teams. We don’t feel like preparing Halfpenny for the Rugby World Cup for Wales.

“We’re conducting an investigation. I will know the whys and hows this week.”

Toulon recently announced the signing of Argentinian international Juan Martin Hernandez, who will join the club in January, which would ease the pain of Halfpenny’s potential exit.

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