Rugby: French contract lures Arnold

It is a moment Toby Arnold will never forget.

In front of a full house at the Wellington Sevens in February last year, the All Blacks Sevens star suffered a grade three ACL tear in his knee and left the stadium in agony.

The prospect of six months out of the game confined to the lonely life of rehab was daunting but the thought of getting fit enough to play for his beloved Bay of Plenty Steamers in the ITM Cup drove him on.

Then a further setback hit the likeable 25-year-old fullback when he was just six weeks from a return to playing. During a practice with the Bethlehem College First XV he was coaching, he damaged the knee again, meaning another year out.

It was a dark time for him as he had never had a bad injury before, so having the game taken away from him was hard to take.

Arnold is finally fit after 16 months on the sideline but his comeback will not be for Tauranga Sports, the Steamers or the All Blacks Sevens - he has signed a two year deal with Lyon in the second tier French competition.

A chance meeting in Hong Kong with Lyon coach Tim Lane set up the French deal.

Arnold had coached the Tauranga Sports sevens team last summer and was in Hong Kong doing some resource coaching for an international academy called Penguin Rugby when he bumped into Lane and they got talking.

"The security of a two year deal was the determining factor in going to Lyon," Arnold said. "Everyone I have talked to has said good things about [Lyon] and I am definitely looking forward to the experience and learning the language and culture.

"The standard is around ITM Cup level so I want to go over there and play in the top team and go well."

Arnold played 41 games for the Steamers as an attacking fullback with pace to burn.

"A highlight for me was definitely the last year I played in 2011. I really cemented my spot and I suppose I did it the season before but I just felt really comfortable that year and everyone saw my best footy come out. I scored a few tries and just felt at home. It was quite a good year for us too.

"My debut against Otago in 2007 was definitely another [highlight]. I was only 19 and did not expect to make my debut that early. It was pretty special because my dad was there as well at Baypark."

Winning a gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games with the All Blacks Sevens is a special career high for Arnold, who, until his injury, was a first choice for Sir Gordon Tietjens.

"It was a great moment and the following year, we won the World Series as well. I played a lot of minutes and a lot of games that series, which was pretty cool to be a part of.

"It is everyone's dream to wear the black jersey but I didn't expect it to be sevens. Growing up [in King Country] I didn't play a lot of sevens but just got invited to a camp one day and it went from there.

"It was a huge honour to put on that black jersey and certainly the proudest rugby moment I have ever had."

Arnold has not given up hope of coming back in two years and having a crack at the Olympics.

"I don't want to completely write that off but it will be hard to come back after two years playing just straight 15s and start playing sevens again.

"I am also keen to push on and play 50 games for the Bay and notch that milestone."