French powerhouse club Toulouse have confirmed England international fly half Toby Flood will join the club next summer, bringing an end to months of speculation regarding the player’s future.
Flood, who currently plays for the reigning Aviva Premiership champions the Leicester Tigers had been linked with a move to the French club for much of this season and as a result, this announcement doesn’t come as too much of a surprise for those who have a keen eye on English rugby.
The 28 year old was first linked with the Top 14 side back in December last year when Richard Cockerill, the Director of Rugby of the English club announced that the player will be leaving the club at the end of the season after refusing to put pen to paper on a new deal at Welford Road.
The fly half moved to the club from the Newcastle Falcons back in 2008 and has played 113 times for the Leicester Tigers since then and has been one of the most influential players for the club on the pitch.
Speaking to the website of Toulouse, Flood stated that the club symbolized everything French rugby stood for, adding that it shares plenty of similarities with the Tigers and this made him want to play even more for the club.
Flood has played sixty times for the England national team but after he announced his desire to play in France, he was dropped from the squad by head coach Stuart Lancaster with the Leicester Tigers skipper falling a victim to the country’ policy of not selecting players based abroad.
But Cockerill has hailed the departing skipper, saying that he has been one of the greatest servants to the club and he will be fondly remembered for what he has achieved at Welford Road.