Paul O’Connell leads trio of high-profile signings for Toulon

Ireland stalwart Paul O’Connell, England prop Matt Stevens and South Africa back-rower Duane Vermeulen have signed contracts with European champions Toulon, club president Mourad Boudjellal said Monday.

Meanwhile, European and Top 14 runners-up Clermont Auvergne announced at the same time that they have agreed terms with former All Blacks winger Hosea Gear.

Emblematic Ireland captain and lock O’Connell, 35, has signed for one year with the option of another as he leaves Munster following 15 years at the Irish province.

Boudjellal said O’Connell “really wanted to finish his career the way Jonny Wilkinson did”, referring to the England great’s Toulon swansong which ended with a French and European double 12 months ago.

O’Connell, who has 101 Ireland caps plus seven for the British & Irish Lions, will join the Top 14 club after the World Cup in England in September and October.

Despite worries about a troublesome shoulder, O’Connell passed a medical earlier this week.

South Africa-born Stevens, 32, joins from Durban-based Super Rugby outfit Coastal Sharks on a two-year deal following an international career which saw him win 46 caps for England.