It’s more than a quarter of a century since the Berlin Wall came down and communism was rolled up like a musty carpet across Eastern Europe.

Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal has launched an audacious bid to see his three-time European champions join the Aviva Premiership.

They give the impression of having it all — the world’s most charismatic player, match-winners all over the pitch, and an Irish skills coach better versed than anyone else in the art of conquering Europe.

Euro 2016 will remain in France, UEFA has announced.

Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal has angrily denied allegations of doping made against the triple European champions.

Maybe there will have to be a law against Toulon, one denouncing them as bad for business because they are too good for everyone else.

Look in isolation at Leinster’s Rugby Champions Cup quarter-final with Bath at the Aviva Stadium today, and it is tempting to ponder what, if anything, has changed in this tweaked version of Europe’s premier club competition.

Toulon’s Delon Armitage has appealed against a 12-week ban for abusive language directed at Leicester Tigers supporters after a European Rugby Champions Cup match on December 7, European Professional Cup Rugby has announced.

Come Sunday the veins under Cedric Abellon’s war paint will be throbbing.

By Peter O’ Dwyer

The controversy about racist comments from Donald Sterling, owner of the LA Clippers NBA team, is bubbling along in the US.

It says everything about the way rugby is going that the first person to occupy a seat on the top table at the Toulon post-match press conference after Sunday’s semi-final was club owner Mourad Boudjellal. Even Roman Abramovich wouldn’t chance that after a Chelsea victory.

Toulon’s billionaire owner Mourad Boudjellal yesterday paid tribute to Munster for pushing his troops to the limit in their quest to secure back-to-back Heineken Cup titles.

Just as Brian O’Driscoll wanted to leave the international stage with a Six Nations medal around his neck, so Jonny Wilkinson has his eyes firmly focussed on a gilt-edged finale to a glittering rugby career.

In a market that is set to become even more competitive given increased revenues from their domestic and European broadcast deals, the English and French clubs are set to make life a lot more difficult for the Irish provinces.

Toulon’s eccentric owner Mourad Boudjellal has taken a swipe at English referee Wayne Barnes, accusing him of showing bias against his all-star team during Sunday’s Heineken Cupquarter-final.

Jonny Wilkinson has admitted he is unsure if he will be able to line out against Munster in the Heineken Cup semi-final in Marseille on April 27.

Toulon 29 Leinster 14

Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal wants his team to beat Leinster at the Stade Félix Mayol this weekend to confirm their arrival as giants of European rugby.

THE end is in sight, even if we are not quite there yet.

European champions Toulon will not take part in the proposed Anglo-French tournament and will remain in the Heineken Cup as a protest against the French league’s plan to limit the number of foreign players, club president Mourad Boudjellal said.

The transfer of Ireland out-half Johnny Sexton to Racing Metro has acquainted Irish fans of the oval ball with a fact of life: A new breed of owner now holds sway in French rugby and they will allow little to get in their way.

Toulon rugby director Philippe Saint-Andre looks set to succeed Marc Lievremont as France coach after the upcoming World Cup.

TOULON target Mathieu Bastareaud is suffering from a form of depression and is no longer “psychologically able” to play for Stade Francais, according to Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal.

GAVIN HENSON will remain at Toulon for at least the rest of the season after the club decided not to terminate his contract.

GAVIN HENSON’S ill-fated Toulon career hangs on tenterhooks after the club denied reports that they had sacked the 29-year-old centre, instead saying that no decision would be announced for at least another 48 hours.

COLOURFUL Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal has accused European Rugby Cup Ltd (ERC) of fixing Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-finals for the benefit of Pool 2 winners Leinster.

THERE were hugs, slaps on the back and even a few tears - it's been a long time since Toulon enjoyed a day like this but thanks to the largesse of owner Mourad Boudjellal, they may have a few more in the future.

THEY MAY have heard the cheap jibes about Munster being funded by the IMF, and allegations about the state of Irish hospitality at Thomond Park but one wonders what the Munster brains trust will make of Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal’s latest outburst against Tony McGahan’s men.

TOULON’S controversial owner Mourad Boudjellal has turned up the heat ahead of Munster’s must-win Heineken Cup visit to the Stade Félix Mayol in January.

DOUBTING the quality of the players lining out for Toulon in this afternoon’s Heineken Cup game against Munster at Thomond Park would serve no useful purpose.

ONE OF the more bizarre yet intriguing aspects of the Heineken Cup over the years has been the ambivalent relationship between the tournament and the French sides.

Swashbuckling captain Joe Van Niekerk tells Ian Moriarty that the French side are determined to put their best foot forward for the Heineken Cup.

MONEY will be no object when it comes to keeping Jonny Wilkinson at Toulon, according to the club’s owner, Mourad Boudjellal.

Money will be no object when it comes to keeping Jonny Wilkinson at Toulon according to the club’s owner Mourad Boudjellal.

England star Jonny Wilkinson is expected to be unveiled tonight as Toulon’s marquee signing for next season.

MUNSTER prop Timmy Ryan looks poised to follow Leinster’s Felipe Contepomi to French Top 14 club, Toulon this summer.

JONNY WILKINSON has been dubbed “the Michael Jackson of rugby” by the man who is trying to lure the England star to France.

Former New Zealand captain Tana Umaga has signed a lucrative one-year deal with French second division club Toulon.