Peter Clohessy was last night set to come out of retirement and play with Toulouse. Pending ratification of a few last details in negotiations between the two sides, the 54-times capped Irish prop could be a Toulouse player by next week. By Gerry Thornley

The French club urgently need a prop and though the ball was last night in their court, Clohessy himself has agreed to to join them after originally hesitating over a lucrative four-month contract.

Clohessy and his wife Anna had discussed the move and seemingly decided to reject the idea before having a change of heart in the last few days.

"Like I said before, it's a good offer but this isn't about the money," said Clohessy. "It's not even that I desperately wanted to play again. If it hadn't been something like this I wouldn't have come out of retirement.

"It's a chance to experience something different and it's a challenge. I've done everything I can do in Irish rugby. There's nothing left that would make me want to play again. I've played in the Super 12s in Australia, so why not go to France?"

Despite losing out on their ninth championship in 14 years last season when beaten in the final by Biarritz, Toulouse remain the biggest club in France and French rugby's best hope in the Heineken Cup.

Clohessy admits he hasn't exactly been pumping iron and pounding the treadmill but maintains: "I could play a match tomorrow if I had to. I don't how fast I'd be around the field but I could play a match."