As they prepare for life back in the Top 14, Agen continue their recruitment drive with the capture of Welsh international centre Jamie Robinson from Toulon, writes Ray de Galles

Despite strong rumours suggesting Robinson had agreed to join newly formed Italian Magners League outfit Aironi, the 30-year-old, 23-cap centre decided to stay on in France. There’s no doubt his parlez-vous skills could be one reason why he was tempted to move north-west from the Mediterranean coast. However, there are others.

His one and only season at the Stade Mayol was un sac mélangé. He began well, nailing down a starting spot and generally making a good impression as Toulon started the campaign en feu. But a crucial fumble against Montpellier in mid-September that gifted les Heraultais a decisive, last-minute, match-winning try was a sign of things to come.

Two further howlers followed against Paris which, although unpunished, were the beginning of the end for Jamie’s Toulon adventure. He battled on gamely, but was frozen out of the first team picture from mid-January onwards and was never even registered for the Amlin Cup, a competition that Toulon reached the final of before losing to Robinson's former Blues colleagues.

He joins an Agen outfit that seems well stocked in the centre department. Australian Junior Pelesas and Agen legend Rubeni Caucaunibuca were pretty much permanent fixtures at 12 and 13 for les Agennais last season. Add South African centre Daniel du Plessis, plus new recruits Argentinian Miguel Avramovic and Tongan maison de puissance Manu Ahotaeiloa and there’s plenty of competition for places, especially when you consider that, du Plessis apart, they’re all internationals.

However, it’s onwards and upwards for Robinson. He’s equally at home in the centre or on the wing, so should see plenty of game time next season. Pelesas looks a shoe-in for one of the centre positions, but Jamie has the ability to bag the other, with Caucau and Ahotaeiloa being shunted out to the wings and du Plessis and Avramovic warming the bench.

Le Rugby would also like to bang the ‘we-told-you-so’ drum particularly loudly, as we recently predicted this story:

“…although Toulon club officials may prefer to see the back of him before the second year of his contract kicks in. He could be an attractive proposition to one of the newly promoted Top 14 teams, so one way or another expect him to be around next season. Toulon’s loss could be Agen’s gain”.

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