KEY POINTS:
Tana Umaga's picture beams out from almost every promotional poster around the Toulon club's Stade Mayol.
The south stand is packed with fans in club t-shirts with Umaga's face printed on the fronts.
It's a glorious mild January afternoon and 13,000 are here to bid adieu to the
former New Zealand captain.
Adoration wouldn't be too strong a word for it.
They welcome him with a vocal haka blasted out on the stadium's sound system. Then they stand to receive him, that familiar shuffling gait giving the impression of anything other than one of the world's great rugby men.
And then he plays.
You couldn't accuse Toulon of only playing to their star man - he knocks on with his first touch and handles the ball only once more in the half.
But his defensive commitment is significant, so too his shrewd experience and uncanny ability to put himself where he is of most value to his team. That alone reveals his pedigree and his work off the ball is equally impressive.
Toulon win, 32-10, to maintain their challenge for a place in the play-off group that will decide the second promotion slot.
For a club who were champions of France as recently as 1987 and again in 1992, onwards and upwards is an en-vogue expression.
At the final whistle, amid the mayhem and din, they throw the switch that kills the floodlights.
All that remain are a few spotlights, monitoring the great man's progress as he does a lap of honour before his adoring fans.
Come back they plead, but he won't.
"It is sad to be leaving in the sense that I have made some great friends here," he said.
"They have looked after me very well. The reception I have had has been phenomenal, out of this world. It's a great town and the feeling they have here for rugby is similar to what they have in Wellington.
"There is a passion for the game in both places and supporters come, rain or shine, win or lose. They always back up the next week and that's what I am used to from being in Wellington.
"I wouldn't come back and play, although I certainly would to holiday. Our winter weather here has been better than New Zealand's summer, from what I hear. It has been unbelievable weather.
"I think I have one more season left in me and I started with Wellington so I would like to finish with them. That is where my heart lies and if I could do that it would be tremendous.
"It's been great over here but I'm ready to go home."
What has the experience taught Umaga? "Lots of things about a different culture. Yet although it is different it's the same game and the same passion for that game. No matter where you go the fundamentals are the same. But this is another part of the world I haven't spent enough time in which is why I'd like to come back for a holiday and see the friends I have made."
Toulon's former Ireland centre Rob Henderson, who played alongside Brian O'Driscoll many times, paid Umaga a handsome tribute.
"He is one of the best players in the world and he has captained the best team in the world so it is automatic he has got that respect.
"But in return he has brought us professionalism, direction and class to the team. He will be sorely missed.
"I have played with and against the best centres in the world for the last 10 years and Tana is undoubtedly one of the greatest. His aura, commitment, professionalism, skills and the humility he brings, add up to the perfect role model.
"I would bracket Tana and Brian O'Driscoll in the same model. The two of them are impeccable, fantastic ambassadors for the game. They are of the same ilk, they give 100 per cent every time they play. I will cherish the time we spent together; it's been a pleasure to play with him.
"If Tana was from any other country, he would be playing at the World Cup this year. And if he wanted it, he would have another 4-5 years left in him."
Maybe even Toulon couldn't quite afford five more years at that salary. But they'd have him back like a shot for next season, if he gave them the slightest encouragement.
Satisfied customers? For sure.
Tana in Toulon
* €500,000 ($939,000) richer for his seven-match stint with the former French champions
* Equates to around €70,000 per match
* Toulon are the wealthiest club in the French second division with an annual playing budget €9.6 million
* To help fund Umaga's appearances, ticket prices for two matches during the former All Black captain's stay were raised from €15 to €50
* When Toulon played Racing Metro of Paris, a club that normally averages 1000 spectators, 7000 intrigued Parisians turned up
* It was a similar story elsewhere