European champions Toulon have released a statement denying they are chasing the signature of Ireland captain Paul O'Connell.
With Bakkies Botha and Ali Williams leaving the Top 14 giants at the end of the season, Toulon have been linked with a number of replacements. They are no stranger to signing experienced locks having recruited Victor Matfield and Simon Shaw in the past but despite rumours to the contrary, Mourad Boudjellal's outfit say they have not contacted O'Connell.
The Ireland captain is under contract with his province Munster until June 2016 and have moved to emphasise "the alleged contact between the player and the Red and Black are pure speculation."
And Munster coach Anthony Foley told Cork's RedFM O'Connell had laughed off the speculation. "There's some carry on going in the background," Foley said. "It's all in the media, when you talk to Paul there's nothing. Even when the Pau stuff came out he had a good laugh around that. He probably having a good laugh at the Toulon stuff.
"It's probably a fella trying to scout every club to get as many of the world's best players. Unfortunately for him, he's with us."
For Toulon, their immediate focus is on the season run-in and they could be without Delon Armitage for their European final against Clermont Auvergne on May 2 after he picked up a hand injury in their semi-final win over Leinster.