Coleman headlines Bordeaux-Begles' transfers
TRANSFER NEWS: Former Australia lock Adam Coleman will join Bordeaux-Begles after this year’s World Cup where he is set to feature for Tonga, the French club announced.
Coleman, 31, made the last of his 38 Test appearances at the 2019 World Cup but was named last month in Tonga’s squad for the tournament starting in September.
The former Melbourne Rebels forward was a free agent after English club London Irish filed for administration in June.
World Rugby eligibility rules allow a capped player to switch allegiance to another country for which they are eligible following a three-year cooling-off period.
Coleman qualifies for the Pacific Island nation thanks to his late father Pau’u Afeaki, who was Tonga’s captain.
Bordeaux-Begles also confirmed the arrival of eight other players including current Australia back-rower Pete Samu, Japan forward Tevita Tatafu and France winger Damian Penaud, all which had been announced earlier in the year.
The new Top 14 season will begin on the weekend of August 19-20 before taking a seven-week break for the World Cup, which ends on October 28.
