Promising Reds playmaker Duncan Paia’aua is set to leave the Brisbane-based Super Rugby outfit for Top 14 side Toulon at the end of 2019.
Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal named Paia’aua as the club’s latest recruit in French media reports and sources at the Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) have since confirmed the 23-year-old is set to depart the Reds at the end of the 2019 Super Rugby season.
Paia’aua is contracted to the club for next year and it’s understood he will play the entirety of the 2019 season before heading to the three-time European Champions Cup winners.
Money is understood to be a motivating factor in Paia’aua’s decision.
The QRU were simply unable to match the cash thrown at the utility back by Toulon.
Boudjellal described Paia’aua as having a “Matt Giteau” profile about him and while that may seem a touch far-fetched there is no doubt Paia’aua’s loss will hurt the Reds and, by extension, the depth of the Wallabies.
He is highly rated at the Reds and captained Queensland Country to an Australian National Rugby Championship title in 2017 before taking the reins once more this season.