Rugby: Stephen Donald linked with move to Toulon

Stephen Donald. Photo NZPA / Wayne Drought.

Stephen Donald has been linked with a move to France to play for the European Champions Toulon.

The All Blacks World Cup hero is reportedly interesting the wealthy French club who are searching for a first five-eighth.

Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper had signed a two-year deal with them in April but the Daily Telegraph have reported that he's poised to turn his back on that and sign a new contract with the Australian Rugby Union.

Fellow New Zealander Tom Taylor has been linked with a move there in recent days but it now appears that Donald is their man, and reports in La Provence have dubbed him as Toulon's "joker" - as they're looking for cover through the World Cup period.

They already have Matt Giteau and Frederic Michalak but both look set to feature in the World Cup with seven rounds of the Top 14 set to be played during the tournament.

The 31-year-old was famously called into the All Blacks World Cup squad in 2011 while whitebaiting and he came off the bench in the final against France to kick a crucial penalty at Eden Park.

He played 23 tests for the All Blacks between 2008 and 2011 and he's spent the last two years playing for Mitsubishi Dynaboars in Japan after spells with Waikato, the Chiefs and Bath.

Donald, known as the Beaver, has been promoting supporters tours for the World Cup with Graham Henry but his commitments look set to switch to Top 14 Rugby.