Tighthead off to Toulon

North Harbour prop Mike Noble has joined French club Toulon.

The tighthead, who served a three-game ban early in the Air New Zealand Cup for punching, was in the Blues squad for this year's Super 14 but got no game time.

Harbour have NZ Colts prop Michael Reid and national under-19 representative Ben Afeaki, along with new signing James Afoa from Bay of Plenty, to cover the absence of Noble and All Black loosehead Tony Woodcock, who will be absent on All Black duty for next year's championship.