SYDNEY: Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell has opted not to re-sign with the Australian Rugby Union and is reportedly set to join former Test centre Matt Giteau at French club Toulon.
The ARU said the 63-Test veteran would leave Australia at the end of the season, with Fairfax newspapers citing the NSW Waratahs try-scorer as saying he was heading to France.
“First and foremost, playing for Australia means absolutely everything to me,” he said, but he added that he wanted a new challenge in France.
“It’s a challenge thing, what I want out of footy and life.”
The ARU said he would still be considered for the Lions Tour in June and July and the Rugby Championship later in the year.
Mitchell has been linked with an overseas move for some months and reports said there was a NSW Waratahs/ARU offer on the table but it did not match what was tabled by Toulon.
Meanwhile, Dean Ryan has been appointed as the new director of rugby at Worcester, the English Premiership club announced yesterday.
The former Gloucester coach arrives at Sixways following the departure of head coach Richard Hill, who left the club yesterday evening after six years in charge.
Ryan, 46, was part of the Scotland coaching team during the Six Nations this season, and will take up his new role following Worcester’s final game of the 2012-2013 season against London Welsh.
Worcester can finish no higher than ninth in the English top flight this season and are set for a period of upheaval during the close season.
Eight new players are due to arrive at the club, including fly-half Paul Warwick from Stade Francais, former Exeter playmaker Ignacio Mieres and Montpellier forward Agustin Creevy.
There will also be several high-profile exits, with Matt Mullan, Andy Goode, Matt Kvesic and Errie Claassens all set to leave the club.
Meanwhile, Worcester’s Fijian back Josh Matavesi has received a four-week ban from the Rugby Football Union.
Matavesi was cited for a dangerous tackle on Saracens scrum-half Neil de Kock during last weekend’s game between the clubs and pleaded guilty to the charge at an RFU disciplinary hearing yesterday.
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