All Black flanker Liam Messam has reportedly signed a two-year deal with Toulon and will join the three-time European champions at the end of the 2018 Super Rugby season.
French newspaper Midi Olympique had reported Messam was in talks with Lyon last month, but it seems Toulon have trumped them at the last minute.
The announcement is set to be confirmed on Saturday.
It was widely speculated that Jerome Kaino would, in fact, be Toulon’s key signing to replace Springbok Duane Vermeulen, as President Mourad Boudjellal had stated Vermeulen “will be replaced by an international level player that we will announce in the next 48 hours”.
Messam, who played 43 tests for the All Blacks between 2008-2015 will now join the likes of Ma’a Nonu, Malakai Fekitoa and Alby Matheson on the French south coast.