Toulon stars Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell headline Australian XV in France

HEINEKEN Cup winners Matt Giteau Drew Mitchell are just a couple Aussie rugby stars playing in France. Check out our French foreign legion XV.

Departing Queensland Reds star Digby Ioane with a french flag at Kangaroo Point. Pic Annette Dew

IS it time to relax the Wallabies’ eligibility rules — oui ou non?

As former Australian stars Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell hogged the headlines by helping spark French club Toulon to another Heineken Cup success, the question was inevitably raised.

Giteau and Mitchell, who combined for Toulon’s opening try to kickstart the 23-6 victory over England’s Saracens, head a strong contingent of Australian rugby players plying their trade offshore.

Toulon’s triumph a first for Mitchell

In recent times there have been calls from the likes of Wallabies greats Stirling Mortlock and George Gregan for the ARU to take another look at the rules which currently prohibit overseas-based players representing Australia.

Jonny lauds Giteau after Cup success

Digby Ioane is one of a host of Australian rugby stars playing in France.

It’s a tough question and one to which we don’t pretend to have the answer, but the performance of the star duo got us thinking about how many Aussies are running around overseas.

Incredibly — or perhaps we should say it’s incroyable — we were able to come up with a pretty handy side based exclusively — or about to be — in France.

Australia’s French foreign legion XV

1. Jono Owen — current Reds prop and former Brumby and Rebel is off to Grenoble at the end of the season.

2. Damien Fitzpatrick — hooker who spent four years at the Waratahs is now plying his trade with incoming Top 14 side Lyon.

3. Dan Palmer — One-Test prop — who played his sole match for the Wallabies in 2012 — left the Brumbies last year to link with Grenoble.

Rebels lock Hugh Pyle is off to France.

4. Hugh Pyle — Rebels lock, once touted as a future Wallaby, has announced he will leave Australia for France at the end of the season.

5. Sitaleki Timani — Ex-Force, Brumbies and Waratahs enforcer played a big role in the back half of 2013 for the Wallabies, but his 18-Test career has stalled after joining Montpellier in France.

6. Peter Kimlin — Signed with Grenoble after limited opportunities with the Wallabies, only for Ewen McKenzie to take over as coach and declare his admiration for the then Brumbies big man.

Former Brumby Peter Kimlin now plays for Grenoble.

7. George Smith — Wallabies legend has finished up his Japan stint with Panasonic Wild Knights and will join Fitzpatrick at Lyon.

8. Ben Mowen — Incumbent Wallabies captain shocked Australian rugby when he announced at the start of the year he was taking up an offer to head offshore. Will join Timani at Montpellier.

9. Josh Valentine — Former Reds and Waratahs No. 9 debuted for the Wallabies in 2006 and played six Tests. Now with RC Narbonne.

10. Brock James — Ex-Scots College student couldn’t quite crack it at the Reds and Force so decided to try his luck at Clermont. Hasn’t looked back.

Aussie Brock James plays for Clermont.

11. Drew Mitchell — Veteran flyer played 63 Tests for the Wallabies, before joining Giteau at Toulon.

12 Matt Giteau — A shock omission for the 2011 RWC, Giteau left for France with 92 Tests to his name. His European form suggests he could still mix it with the best at the top level.

Drew Mitchell (left) and Matt Giteau celebrate Toulon’s Heineken Cup victory at the Millennium Stadium.

13. Digby Ioane — Up there with the top outside backs in the world when at his best, the 35-Test Wallaby left the Queensland Reds to play with Stade Francais

14. Blair Connor — Queensland flyer who has played for Bordeaux-Begles since 2010.

15. James O’Connor — After linking with London Irish following his axing from the Wallabies, the 44-Test star has signed on to join Giteau and Mitchell at Toulon next season.

Originally published as Toulon stars Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell headline Australian XV in France