Semi Radradra to leave Parramatta Eels for French rugby side Toulon
TROUBLED flyer Semi Radradra will turn his back on rugby league and Parramatta after signing a two-year deal with French rugby side Toulon.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Radradra has rejected a lucrative three-year contract extension at the Eels and will walk away at the end of the 2017 season. His departure now means Parramatta will have about $1 million in salary cap space for next year.
Radradra will miss half the French rugby season after the Eels dug in their heels to ensure the 24-year-old fan favourite fulfils his contract. While the French season starts in August, Radradra will not be free to play until November.
It is understood Radradra has not sought an early exit for the Eels after being told he would need to break his contract if he wanted to leave.
A looming court case places uncertainty surrounding Radradra’s NRL career. He is due to face court again on February 13 on domestic violence charges regarding an incident with his former partner, Perina Ting. He was asked to surrender his passport at his last court appearance in November.
“The Eels have been advised by George Christodoulou, the manager of Semi Radradra, that Semi has accepted an offer to play rugby union for Toulon,” Eels chief executive Bernie Gurr said.
“As advised previously to Semi and his manager, Semi will fulfil his 2017 playing contract with the Parramatta Eels as the club will not release Semi from his 2017 obligations to our club.
“Accordingly, the earliest Semi could commence at Toulon is early November 2017.”
Toulon had prematurely trumpeted the signing of Radradra in November. Radradra has the option for a second season in his favour.
The Eels had signalled their intentions to keep Radradra at the club beyond his contract expiring at the end of this year. He walked away from a $1.5 million NRL three-year deal to sign a $1 million dollar a season contract with Toulon.
“In early December, the Eels indicated our wish to keep Semi at our club by making a very attractive offer to Semi for 2017 (an upgrade of existing contract), 2018 and 2019,” Gurr said.
“The offer from Toulon was substantially higher than our club’s offer. We look forward to Semi being a most productive member of the Eels playing squad and then we wish Semi well in his rugby union venture with Toulon.”
Parramatta are expected to be among the most active teams in the player market for next season. Already half a million dollars under the salary cap for this year, the Eels have not rushed into replacing big-money recruits Anthony Watmough and Kieran Foran.
They need a long-term halves partner to Corey Norman and are eyeing a hooker.
Radradra, who has been training with the Eels this week, has scored 60 tries from 68 matches since making his debut for the Eels in 2013. He represented Australia last year.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...n/news-story/657e7b5348589ab5f9c23b487c2da594
...although the results were kind of worth it!
