Toulon keen to play in English Premiership

Ma'a Nonu joined Toulon after the Rugby World Cup. Photo / Getty

Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal has launched an audacious bid to see his three-time European champions join the English Premiership.

A Premiership Rugby spokesman confirmed to Press Association Sport that a letter was received via email from the French club on Wednesday night.

Multi-millionaire comic book publisher Boudjellal's move looks highly unlikely to succeed, although the possibility of England's Premiership clubs discussing it should not be ruled out.

Boudjellal has had an ongoing and often bitter battle with organisers of the Top 14 - France's premier domestic competition - about matters such as the 10 million euros (NZ$16.7 million) salary cap, and most recently, new rules that were introduced last summer regarding player bonus payments now being part of the cap if they amount to more than 10 per cent of a player's salary.

Toulon's expensively-assembled squad is packed with world stars like Bryan Habana, Matt Giteau, Ma'a Nonu, Leigh Halfpenny, Quade Cooper, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and Duane Vermeulen.

And England World Cup winner Ben Kay believes Boudjellal's initiative might be aimed at "ruffling a few feathers" to get what he wants in France.

Outspoken Toulon chief Boudjellal told French newspaper L'Equipe that his club's Premiership presence would offer "a huge added value," adding: "I wrote for a contact. If this is not possible the next season, maybe the one after that.

"For them (the English), besides a big first, it would be a huge added value. And I'm serious in my approach."

A Premiership Rugby spokesman told Press Association Sport: "It is a bit early for us to make a formal response, but we will be doing so in due course.

"It does show the appeal of Premiership rugby."

- AAP