Rugby: Fekitoa targeted by Toulon

Malakai Fekitoa faces a decision whether to stay to pursue national selection or pick up a contract which will set him up for life. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A French newspaper has claimed Malakai Fekitoa is being wooed by rugby club Toulon. Midi Olympique claims the Highlanders centre has been offered a two-year contract.

The 25-year-old comes off contract this year and missed the All Blacks squad for the Lions tour.

As the Herald reported last week, Fekitoa faces a decision whether to stay to pursue national selection or pick up a contract which will set him up for life. It will be tempting for him to head to a more appreciative suitor and make a lot of cash.

Alternatively, as an All Blacks regular since 2014, he must find the depth of character to prove himself again at international level.

Ngani Laumape has charged past in the meantime, Sonny Bill Williams is nearing his unpredictable best and Ryan Crotty and Anton Lienert-Brown are deemed more reliable and composed in the test arena.

Of further significance is the selection of Crusaders centre Jack Goodhue as injury cover for Crotty.

The consensus is Fekitoa's progress has stalled. His spontaneity has evaporated and the All Blacks selectors described him as wooden - in danger of overthinking his options.

They stuck by him last year when he was rested during the second half of the Rugby Championship - the belief being time away from the game would help him refresh.

"When you look at the breakdown of the squad, we have picked Sonny and Ngani as our two specialist 12s," All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said.

"Crotts can play both [second-five and centre], as can Anton, so we felt that if we were to lose a midfield player, we'd probably be short of a centre. When we looked at Mala and then we looked at Jack Goodhue, then Jack probably got the nod because of his ability to put people into space."