In one of the most interesting moves involving an Irish rugby player in the professional era, the Leinster and Irish flanker Trevor Brennan is joining Toulouse. The inaugural European Cup winners and reigning French champions have signed Brennan on a two-year deal with the option of another year.
The 29-year-old Barnhall player had become frustrated with his relative lack of opportunities at Leinster in the last couple of seasons, and despite a brief return to the Irish team in the autumn wins over Wales, England and Samoa, he didn't figure in an Ireland or Ireland A squad during the last Six Nations campaign.
In what signals a clear positional change, Toulouse have signed Brennan as an out-and-out second row as opposed to a blindside flanker, where he has won 11 of his 13 caps and played much of his rugby.
Describing it as a dream move when speaking to The Irish Times last night, Brennan said: "My own view is that they are up there as one of the best clubs in Europe. They've won the French championship six times in the last eight years, they're full of internationals and the whole professional set-up is massive. In France the championship comes first but the feeling next year is they're going to have a real go at the Heineken Cup."
Last year's title was their 16th overall, and Toulouse are favourites to retain their crown after setting the pace in the play-offs. Having already assured themselves of a place in Europe again next season there's a good chance they will be facing one of the Irish provinces in the pool stages of the Heineken Cup next season.
It was against Toulouse that Brennan made his European debut in September 1997, and he clearly left an impression. Not only did one of his trademark big hits put Christophe Deylaud out of the game, he was also sin binned and after a tour de force performance he walked off with the man of the match award. In all Brennan has faced Toulouse four times.
Brennan was injured for much of the 1998-99 campaign, and has started only seven European games in the last two campaigns. "The last two years have been fairly frustrating. They see me as an impact sub but I believe I'm too good for that." A shoulder problem which requires a month's rest meant he was not available for the forthcoming New Zealand tour, but Brennan has been encouraged to believe by the Irish management this won't necessarily spell the end of his Irish ambitions.
"That's all I want to do, to play for Ireland and because they've more games over there than Leinster would have here I'd be hopeful of at least getting a few more games. Toulouse have their own school for courses and things like that, and obviously I'm going to have to learn French."
His representative, John Baker stressed "the potential benefits of this move go beyond rugby. That said it's a great opportunity for Trevor to continue his illustrious career at a high level and I'd also like to thank Philip Browne and the IRFU for their co-operation throughout the negotiations."
