Umaga eyes Toulon switch

Wellington centre and former New Zealand captain Tana Umaga is reportedly close to securing a deal with French second division club Toulon.

The Dominion Post newspaper claims Umaga will agree a lucrative 12-match contract that would see him feature for Toulon during the New Zealand summer.

Umaga has 18 months remaining on his current contract, but will likely be granted the time off to head to Europe.

The deal would allow the former All Black to feature for Wellington in the National Provincial Competition and the Hurricanes in the 2007 Super 14.

New Zealand Rugby Union deputy chief executive Steve Tew confirmed it was in discussions with the 33-year-old, telling the Post: “Nothing is formalised but we would treat any request from Tana on its merits.”