Toulon

Savea is joining joining French club Toulon on a two year deal and will leave at the end of the Super Rugby competition.

The 27-year-old has played 54 tests for the All Blacks, scoring 46 tries, putting second on New Zealand's all-time try-scoring list behind only Doug Howlett.

Nick named the Bus Julian Savea made his debut for the All Blacks in 2012 against Ireland but struggled for form and fitness at times with his last test against the British and Irish Lions last year.

Nonu joined Toulon after winning the Rugby World Cup in 2015.

"Toulon warmly thanks Ma'a Nonu for his involvement and commitment during these three seasons and wishes him and his family the best for the future," said Toulon on their website, with Nonu having played 77 matches during his time at the French side.

The 36-year-old centre scored 14 tries in 77 matches for Toulon, who lost back-to-back Top 14 finals in 2016 and 2017.

On social media Nonu said:

French media reports in December linked Kaino with Toulon as a replacement for Vermeulen, who will return to the Stormers for Super Rugby when Toulon's season ends.

Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal on Wednesday (Thursday NZ time) confirmed the 39-test Springbok was heading back to South Africa.

"Vermeulen is leaving, he will be replaced by an international level player that we will announce in the next 48 hours," Boudjellal said.

Bastareaud, 29, apologised after the match but will face disciplinary action and, if found guilty, would face a minimum ban of six weeks.

The incident occurred in the last minute of a 36-0 Toulon victory in which Bastareaud scored a try.

He tweeted: "I want to apologise for my reaction to the player's insults."

The centre, who has won 42 France caps, added: "I reacted badly in responding to his provocation, I'm sincerely saddened that I could have hurt people."

The Rugby Paper are reporting controversial Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal is ready to hand Faletau's current employers Bath a whopping €500,000 transfer fee to buy the 70-times capped Wales No.8 out of the final year of his contract in the west country.

And the three-times kings of Europe are also said to be ready to offer the 27-year-old an eye-popping €1m a year deal to make the move across the Channel to the Stade Felix Mayol.

According to Midi Olympique, Kaino was in discussions with the Top 14 side during the All Blacks' recent Northern tour.

His current contract with New Zealand Rugby goes through to the end of the 2018 season.

Kaino had to return home during the French leg of the tour due to a posterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in the Barbarians match.

The 34-year-old, 81-test veteran, was fighting to resurrect his international career after being bumped down the loose forwards pecking order.

He joins fellow All Blacks Luke McAlister, Malakai Fekitoa and Ma'a Nonu at the French Top 14 club.

It's Mathewson's latest stop in a career which has taken him from the Hurricanes to the Blues to the Western Force and domestic stints with Wellington, Hawke's Bay and Canterbury.

He had a stint in England last season with Bristol, but has most recently been plying his trade with King Country in the Heartland Championship.

The 31-year-old, who played four tests for the All Blacks, agreed a deal that includes an option for a second season in the south of France.

Beaten two years ago by Stade Francais, Clermont also tasted the desperation of defeat in three of the past five European Cup finals - including three weeks ago against Saracens at Murrayfield.

But on Sunday at Stade de France it was their turn to step up from the role of perennial bridesmaids and instead it is Toulon who are left to lament a final curse of their own, having been on the wrong end of four of the last six in the Top 14, although that record is mitigated by their 2014 triumph.

The Sharks said Barba had informed the club he had accepted a two-and-a-half-year deal offered by Toulon.

"Ben believes accepting this offer to be in the best interests of himself and his family," a Sharks statement said.

"While disappointed to be losing a player of his calibre, the welfare of Ben and his family is our main priority and we are supportive of the decision he has made."

Barba had planned on spending the second half of the French Top 14 season with Toulon before returning to the NRL mid-year after serving a 12-month suspension for illicit drug use.