Delighted Searle on his way to Toulouse

BILLY Searle’s patience has finally been rewarded with a dream move to European aristocrats Toulouse, and the flyhalf can’t wait “to get stuck in” when he reports for work tomorrow. 

-  JON NEWCOMBE

The 27-year-old spent a short time with Bath after being made redundant at Worcester but has been without a club since they released him in January.

Toulouse first made an approach for Searle in March but the bureaucratic recruitment process in France meant it took a further four months before he finally put pen to paper to end what has been a challenging time.

An injury towards the end of last year means he has been starved of rugby with his only appearance being for the Barbarians against Swansea RFC at the end of May.

But now the Exeter-born playmaker joins Toulouse as World Cup cover just a month or so after the French giants won their 22nd Top 14 title following a dramatic final win over La Rochelle.

“It’s a bit surreal but it is obviously an awesome opportunity for me and what a place to live as well!” he said, as he soaked up the 35-degree heat.

“It was back in March that I first had a Zoom call with them but you know what it is like, they are quite relaxed out here and you never know what can happen. But I was holding on because I wanted to take this opportunity if I could, instead of taking other stuff.