THIS year’s World Cup has been robbed of one of it’s biggest stars with Fiji winger Semi Radradra announcing he is to return to rugby union.
The 24-year-old’s agent informed his NRL club on Wednesday of the decision to join French club Toulon on Wednesday. The Top 14 season begins at the end of August.
Radradra played one Test for Australia and four for Fiji in his four years in rugby league.
Eels chief executive Bernie Gurr wrote to members with the news, saying: “The Parramatta Eels rugby league club have been advised by George Christodoulou, the manager of Semi Radradra, that Semi has accepted an offer to play rugby union for the Toulon rugby club for the 2017/2018 European rugby season, with an option for a second year being the 2018/2019 season. This option for the second season is in favour of Semi Radradra.
“Semi has a court appearance on 13 February 2017. As advised previously to Semi and his manager, Semi will fulfil his 2017 playing contract with the Parramatta Eels as the club will not release Semi from his 2017 obligations to our club; accordingly, the earliest Semi could commence at Toulon is early November 2017.
“In early December 2016 the Parramatta Eels indicated our wish to keep Semi at our club by making a very attractive offer to Semi for the 2017 (upgrade of existing contract), 2018 & 2019 NRL seasons.
“The offer from Toulon was substantially higher than our club’s offer. We look forward to Semi being a most productive member of the 2017 Parramatta Eels playing squad and then we wish Semi well in his rugby union venture with Toulon.”
Radradra’s court appearance relates to a domestic abuse allegation.
