League: It's all over, Willie the Rover

Willie Mason might switch codes. Photo / Getty Images

Rugby league enfant terrible Willie Mason could be following Sonny Bill William's tracks to Toulon rugby if the gossip surrounding his bizarre departure from Hull Kingston Rovers proves correct.

Mason appears to have played his final game for Hull KR after a passport schemozzle - only six games after he was hailed as arguably the biggest signing in the club's history.

Mason was de-registered by Hull KR this week and did not take the field in the 36-18 loss to Hull in the local derby on Friday night.

Hull KR's plan for Mason revolved around passport sleight-of-hand. As an Australian, Mason would have been regarded as an overseas player - so the club took the decision to de-register (fellow Australian) halfback Michael Dobson to fit Mason in.

In the meantime, Mason - born in New Zealand but who has a Tongan mother - was to seek the Tongan passport that would sidestep the European regulations regarding overseas players.

Some reports even had it that Mason visited Tonga, appealing to the royal family to help him out with a passport.

However, weeks down the track, no passport had appeared and Hull KR had to take the uncomfortable decision to de-register Mason and re-register former Canberra Raider Dobson - who played against Hull, kicking three goals in the defeat.

To make matters worse, after a shining debut against the Crusaders, Mason's form tailed off and the big man began not to look like the signing of the century after all.

Hull KR chairman Neil Hudgell accepted some of the blame for the Mason saga. Speaking after the loss to Hull, Hudgell admitted that mistakes had been made with the former Australia forward. He said Rovers were led to believe Mason was entitled to a Tongan passport and signed him on that proviso.

A change in the Tongan government had caused the delay, said Hudgell, but the club may have turned sour on Mason after he was spotted in France last week meeting the owner of rugby union side Toulon.

Like Williams, Mason is a former Canterbury Bulldogs player and it was to Toulon that Williams fled when his controversial departure from the Bulldogs occurred. Toulon have admitted speaking to Mason but there is no evidence that anything has happened yet other than discussions.

"There are a number of options with Willie, the club has taken a lot of gambles to get where we are," Hudgell said. "When we signed Willie, we needed to know he would get a passport. It hasn't happened and we take the rap for that.

"I didn't even know about an alleged connection with a French rugby union club. Who knows what's around the corner with the Willie Mason circus? If it's true and he was in France a week ago on a day off it's clearly an issue. We intend to speak to Willie and his agent."

Toulon might be wary of taking on a player who also packs a lot of drama into his kit bag. The club are expected to make an announcement tonight over the future of former Wales and British Lions midfielder Gavin Henson.

Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal said Henson has been "difficult to manage".

They slapped a one-match ban on Henson after a reported altercation in a nightclub. Henson is alleged to have criticised Jonny Wilkinson and captain Joe van Niekerk and could be fired from the club less than three months after joining.

Toulouse are waiting to hear from international halfback/first five-eighth Freddie Michalak whether he will stay at the club. Michalak may be surplus to requirements if Toulouse have indeed signed All Black Luke McAlister - there is some disagreement about whether that has happened yet.

He may sign for Lyon or Biarritz next season or could resume his Super Rugby career with either the Waratahs or the Rebels.