Toulon get a new look: Slimani, Fickou and Jones arrive, Nonu and Garbisi leave

It could hardly be more substantial. After a disappointing 2025-26 campaign that ended without a play-off place, Toulon have doubled down this summer. Between arriving international stars and emblematic figures bowing out, the Toulon squad has a new look.

It could hardly be more substantial. After a disappointing 2025-26 campaign that ended without a play-off place, Toulon have doubled down this summer. Between arriving international stars and emblematic figures bowing out, the Toulon squad has a new look.

Slimani, Fickou, Jones: serious quality at every level

Up front, RCT have landed the monstrous Rabah Slimani, 36 and as voracious as ever, from Leinster. Argentina’s Luciano Asevedo and Judicaël Cancoriet, in from La Rochelle, complete the additions to the pack. At fly-half, Luka Keletaona arrives from Brive with a reputation as one of the most exciting young players in the league.

The recruitment in the backs has a galactic feel: Gaël Fickou leaves Racing 92 to move closer to his native Var, Scotland’s Huw Jones arrives from Glasgow to partner him in midfield, and Fiji international Apete Narogo, just off the sevens circuit, will bring his pace on the wing. In the academy side, six new faces appear, including hooker Thomas Ametlla from Aix-en-Provence and Swiss centre Noud Robbertsen, in from Geneva.

Nonu, Garbisi: departures that leave a mark

It is hard to match that on the way out. At 44, New Zealand legend Ma’a Nonu leaves the club for a mentoring role with the Sharks in Durban: a symbol departs. The pack loses Daniel Brennan (Montauban), Brian Alainu’uese (Bayonne) and Giorgi Javakhia (Soyaux-Angoulême), while Jovan Sreckovic and, above all, Paolo Garbisi head for Perpignan. Lohan Sabbia goes to Suresnes and Barnabé Méchentel is loaned to Béziers. Add to that the expiring contracts of Lohann Gil, Mikheili Shioshvili and Noam Moreau, plus eight departures from the academy side.

Toulon have nonetheless locked down their senior men: Gianmarco Lucchesi extends at hooker, Corentin Mézou and Junior Kpoku in the second row, the Baptiste Serin – Ben White pairing at scrum-half, Jérémy Sinzelle and Rayan Rebbadj in midfield, and wing Gabin Villière.

A 2025-26 season to forget

The numbers from the campaign just gone justify the upheaval. RCT finished the regular season with 12 wins, a draw and 13 defeats, a negative points difference (714 scored, 820 conceded) and the 11th-best attack in the league. While Mayol remained a genuine stronghold (10 wins from 13 home matches), Toulon were their own supporters’ nightmare on the road, with just 2 wins from 13 trips.

Individually, wing Gaël Dréan finished as top try-scorer with 10, ahead of Mathis Ferté (8) and Melvyn Jaminet, who scored 6 tries and was Toulon’s leading points scorer off the tee (12 penalties, 41 conversions). With the arrival of Fickou, Jones and Slimani around that base, Toulon’s ambitions are clear: inject fresh blood and international experience to head back towards the top.