Toulon tables troubled Sharks fullback Ben Barba massive $2.5 million contract

UPDATE: Ben Barba has been invited to play at the Global Tens rugby competition as Toulon tabled a monster deal to lure the troubled star away from the NRL.

Ben Barba breaks his silence on his French rugby deal.

BEN Barba has been invited to play at Brisbane’s Global Tens rugby competition as Toulon tabled a monster $2.5 million deal to lure the troubled star away from the NRL.

Toulon initially offered a short-term contract but the cashed-up French rugby outfit upped the ante on Wednesday night to finally convince Barba to embark on a shock code defection.

On a day of drama, Barba considered backflipping on a move to Toulon when the NRL warned he could not serve a 12-match ban for cocaine use playing rugby in France.

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But following 16 hours of tense negotiations, Barba is leaning towards severing ties with the NRL after Toulon dangled a huge contractual carrot.

The French glamour club has offered a two-and-a-half year deal worth around $1 million annually – a package premiers Cronulla simply cannot match.

At 27, Barba may have played his last game of NRL and could launch his Toulon career at the inaugural Global Tens carnival on Saturday week at Suncorp Stadium.

Ben Barba speaking outside of his house on Wednesday.

The Toulon squad, which contains Australian duo Drew Mitchell and James O’Connor, arrives in Brisbane this Monday. Tournament organisers Duco Events confirmed they had put out the welcome mat for Barba to appear at the inaugural 10-a-side event at Suncorp.

“We want him to play Tens rugby,” Duco communications chief Jim Banaghan told The Courier-Mail.

“Ben Barba would be a wonderful asset to the tournament. His style of football is exactly what Tens is about, the invitation has been made to him and we’re hoping he can seize the opportunity.

“We’ve had unbelievable feedback from fans who are asking if he is available and playing.

“Toulon are competing in the tournament, so Barba has every right to play if he officially signs with them.”

Ben Barba’s ban won’t start until he is back from France.

Barba, who was deregistered by the NRL after testing positive to cocaine use following Cronulla’s title win in October, has yet to serve his 12-match ban.

The former Dally M Medallist was hoping a short stint in French rugby would provide an income for his family before he resumed his rugby league career in May.

But the NRL’s threat to delay his registration until the completion of his French rugby stint has opened the door for Toulon to poach Barba for an extended term.

“Ben does not have a registered contract with the NRL so he is free to make a decision to play in a different code with a new club,” NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg said yesterday. “But the NRL will not consider any contract for registration until he has completed his contract with other sports.”

Barba underlined his frustration when he told TV reporters: “The NRL hasn’t given me much ... I might never play the game again.” His manager Gavin Orr said the attacking whiz was eager to test himself in rugby - possibly as early as next week at the Global Tens.

“I dare say he will play in this Tens tournament,” Orr said.

“Ben can either look back at his mistakes or he can look forward and try to be an inspiration for his kids.

“Rugby has been on Ben’s radar before. At one stage he looked at being part of the Australian Sevens team for the Rio Olympics.

“Even before he joined the Sharks, he talked about challenging himself in rugby. Maybe things happen for a reason, but this is something he wants to pursue.”

Originally published as Toulon tables troubled Sharks fullback Ben Barba massive $2.5 million contract