Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Leinster confirm signing of Wallaby winger Tomane

Joe Tomane

Champions Cup and Pro14 holders Leinster have signed 17-times capped Australian back Joe Tomane from Top 14 side Montpellier.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 28-year-old former rugby league player has played against Leinster on a number of occasions over the last few seasons in the Champions Cup with Montpellier and will join his new team mates in time for the 2018/19 pre-season in a few weeks.

Speaking to leinsterrugby.ie Leinster Rugby head Coach Leo Cullen said, “Joe has played in a number of different environments in Australia and most recently in France.

“I think he is a player that will add considerably to the group and is a player that everyone who supports the team will be excited about.

“I hope that we will all learn from some of the experiences that Joe has had in both codes of rugby. He has played with some great players and played under some great coaches too so he will add greatly in terms of continuing to develop Leinster’s young players.

“One of the main factors in signing Joe has been the enthusiasm he has shown in looking to join the club.

“We look forward to welcoming Joe to Leinster in a few weeks’ time.”

Tomane played rugby league with the Melbourne Storm and the Gold Coast Titans from 2008 before switching codes in 2011 and joining the Brumbies.

ADVERTISEMENT

He played 68 times for the Brumbies in Super Rugby scoring 25 tries and was capped 17 times by Australia, making his debut in 2012 against Scotland, before joining Montpellier in the TOP14 in 2016.

Video Spacer

Tomane played 44 times for Montpellier scoring 16 tries and his final game with Montpellier was in the TOP14 Final against Castres when he came off the bench as they came up short two weekends ago.

Ahead of his arrival Tomane said, “I am extremely grateful and blessed to have this opportunity to join Leinster for the next two seasons.

“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to be coached by Leo, Stuart and to train and play alongside world class athletes.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Leinster is one of the premier rugby clubs in the world with a rich culture and I will do everything I can to uphold the standards that the past and present players have laid out. I am excited to share my knowledge and experience with the upcoming talents while looking forward to learning and growing as much as possible myself.

“I hope to have a positive impact on the Leinster community and I can’t wait to meet all the supporters and share many special moments with you all.”

In other news: South Africa add ‘retired’ Saracens hooker to squad for second England Test.

Video Spacer

ADVERTISEMENT

Boks Office | Episode 37 | Six Nations Round 4 Review

Cape Town | Leg 2 | Day 2 | HSBC Challenger Series 2025 | Full Day Replay

Gloucester-Hartpury vs Bristol Bears | PWR 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 36 | Six Nations Round 3 Review

Why did Scotland's Finn Russell take the crucial kick from the wrong place? | Whistle Watch

England A vs Ireland A | Full Match Replay

Kubota Spears vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | JRLO 2024/2025 | Full Match Replay

Watch now: Lomu - The Lost Tapes

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

M
MS 1 hour ago
Why Blair Kinghorn should be nailed on as the Lions starting 15

I can see arguments for both Kinghorn, and Keenan starting for the Lions. But I’m less convinced by some of the claims (clearly partisan) supporters are using to argue the merits of one over the other.


For example, a number of Ireland supporters have suggested Kinghorn is ‘defensively weak’. That’s patently false - or at least on the evidence of this 6N, he’s certainly no weaker there than Keenan is, who is presumably the comparative standard they’re using. Keenan was both shrugged off in contact, and beaten on the edge for pace, a number of times during this competition.


Equally, Scotland supporters arguing Kinghorn is the more capable ‘rugby player’ seem to have overlooked the (frankly sizeable) body of evidence demonstrating that Keenan is an excellent ball in hand distributor and decision maker. So that doesn’t hold up under scrutiny either.


I don’t think there’s all that much to choose between them, and either would be a strong choice. I think it would be really interesting from a pure rugby perspective to see Keenan playing a ‘Scotland-esque’ style of high tempo attacking rugby. Either coming into the line more routinely as first receiver, or being swung as a pendulum and getting the ball on the edge against a stretched defence.


That’s assuming Andy Farrell goes that route, of course. He may well just opt for his Ireland system instead, and populate it with the likes of Henshaw, Ringrose, Lowe and Keenan. I’m sure that would win the series. Quite what effect it might have on a Lions audience who were expecting something other than ‘Ireland on tour, but wearing red’ would remain to be seen.


As for the debate at FB, the only ‘eye test’ difference I feel exists is in the pace of rugby Kinghorn (Toulouse? Scotland?) tends to play. His passing/offload game feels crisper and higher tempo than Keenan’s - and as we saw in Paris, his pace and eye for a gap from deep are superior.


But again, that will only prove a decisive factor if Andy Farrell wants to play that way. If all he wants from his FB is to sit deep, field high balls, and mop up then there’s little between these two equally excellent players.

4 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING 'Cat is out of the bag' over Ben Curry after 'uphill battle': Sanderson 'Cat is out of the bag' over Curry after 'uphill battle': Sanderson
Search