French rugby giants Toulon have offered Eels flyer Semi Radradra a lucrative deal
Christian Nicolussi, The Daily Telegraph
39 minutes ago
PARRAMATTA star Semi Radradra has reportedly signed a lucrative offer from French rugby giants Toulon, despite the threat of domestic violence charges hanging over his head.
Radradra’s manager George Christodoulou on Monday night confirmed to The Daily Telegraph a “very good offer” had been tabled to the 24-year-old for the 2018 season but denied he had signed with the club.
But on Monday night, Toulon took to social media to boast about signing the Fijian Flyer one a one-year deal with an option to extended for a further 12 months.
In a case of deja vu, for the second time in five months Radradra on Monday failed to meet an Eels-imposed deadline to return home from Fiji as rumblings of a defection to rugby union surfaced.
French newspaper L’Equipe also claimed Radradra had signed a two-year deal with glamour club Toulon.
“There is an offer on the table from Toulon, a very good offer, for the 2018 season,” Christodoulou said.
“He is still under contract with Parramatta for next year. He hasn’t signed any contracts with Toulon.
“In an ideal world his future would have become a lot clearer after (Monday’s) case and we could have moved forward with negotiations with Parramatta, first and foremost, other NRL clubs, and then weighed it up against the Toulon deal.
“But nothing has been signed with Toulon, there is just a good deal on the table.”
The deal is for the 2018 French rugby season.
Any deal would be dependent on the outcome of his court case.
Radradra was a no-show at Parramatta Local Court to face domestic violence allegations involving his ex-partner Perina Ting, which will now be held over to February 13.
He has until Wednesday afternoon to sufficiently explain his absence after magistrate Tim Keady rejected the explanation and a letter from a Fijian doctor written on Sunday, that his father was ill.
Radradra was granted leave by Parramatta last Wednesday after telling the club of his father’s ill-health.
New Parramatta boss Bernie Gurr was unapologetic on Monday night about allowing the troubled star to return home to Fiji.
Instead of facing court and joining his teammates for a three-day training camp on the Central Coast this morning, the Eels now expect Radradra to arrive back at Sydney airport sometime on Monday.
In June, Radradra refused to leave Fiji while he weighed up whether to quit Parramatta and accept a big-money offer from French rugby club Bordeaux. He came home five days late and was arrested upon his return over domestic violence allegations.
In court, not even Magistrate Keady was convinced Radradra was ready to return to Sydney.
“I get the impression it will not be any time soon,’’ he said.
Magistrate Keady revoked Radradra’s bail and issuing a holdover warrant for his arrest, but Gurr backed the club’s stance to grant the star winger leave.
“I think it was totally appropriate we let him go,’’ Gurr told The Daily Telegraph.
“He came to us with the understanding from his family — and we spoke to his mum, too — that his dad was very sick.
“Given that scenario, everybody, no matter who you are, could understand from a purely compassionate point of view that of course we were going to let him go.
“We don’t back away from that at all.
“It was a totally normal and compassionate thing to do.
“He desperately wanted to go home, I could understand it, and I would have, too.
“All things being equal, we hope to see him back (today), hopefully, and he’ll be right to go.”
Radradra’s February 13 hearing next year will take place just 20 days before the Eels kick-off what was meant to be a trouble-free 2017 NRL campaign.
Eels sources said Radradra had been in good spirits, despite the pending court case. He had already pleaded not guilty to the charges, and wanted to matter settled in the courts — well before the start of the season proper — only for his father to fall ill.
Radradra is unlikely to feature in the All Stars fixture next year, with the pre-season game to fall three days before his court hearing.
Gurr said while it would have been “preferable’’ Radradra made it back for court.
“From a club disciplinary point of view, he’s done nothing wrong at this stage — he’s asked for justifiable compassionate leave, and we gave it to him,’’ Gurr said.
Gurr made it clear he wanted Radradra in the blue and gold for years to come.
“I’ve only been in the chair about a month, but I understand how much fans love Semi, and understand from a football point of view he’s a very important player for us,’’ Gurr said.
“We’d like him to be here long term.’’
