France

According to Midi-Olympique, Daniel Carter, the ace New Zealand flyhalf, has reached an agreement with Toulon, the club at present top of France's Pro D2, the second league of professional rugby in France.

Midi-Olympique says that the agreement is only verbal and conditional on Toulon's playing in the Top 14 next season.

Midi-Olympique claims that his earnings will be €700 000 plus €100 000 for his image rights. That would be for just one season, making Carter the highest piad rugby player in the world.

(€700 000 is roughly equal to US$1,1 million, GB$550 000 and NZ$1,4 million.)