MHR: the departure of Garbisi and the arrival of Tolofua, what does that change for Montpellier ?

Paolo Garbisi will leave the MHR next week. Louis Carbonel should take over the position of opener until the end of the season. Free Midi – GIACOMO ITALIANO

From Monday January 29, a rather unexpected exchange of players will take place between the MHR and the Rugby Club Toulonnais. Flyhalf Paolo Garbisi (23 years old) will leave for La Rade, while hooker Christopher Tolofua (30 years old) will arrive in Hérault.

Going during the season is becoming fashionable. In this trend, Montpellier and Toulon are connected. In November, international fullback Melvyn Jaminet (24 years old, 20 caps) left Stade Toulousain to join the Rouge et Noir. At the same time, we learned of the departure of Montpellier hooker Tolu Latu to sign for La Rochelle.

New defectors are expected in the coming days. It concerns the MHR and the Var club again. Center Paolo Garbisi would exchange places in the Montpellier squad with Toulon hooker Christopher Tolofua. And this, from Monday. 

Also read:Bernard Laporte and his role as director of rugby at the MHR: "In my head, I plan beyond June 2024"

The rugby director's statement to the readers of Midi Libre on January 10 takes on its full meaning: "Why Latu left ? C' was the problem with the Jiff (players from French training). We couldn't have two non-jiff hookers (with Brandon Paenga-Amosa). If one of them gets hurt, he we will have to count on a young person or another who may arrive."

The Jiff argument can be explained by the delay taken by the MHR in the objective of having an average of 16 jiff per match to avoid sanctions next season (6 fewer points in the ranking). The club is eleven Jiff behind today. 

The case was finally closed quite quickly, with Garbisi in the transaction.

File closed quickly

Tolofua should sign up for two and a half seasons with Montpellier. The imminent departures of left pillar Simon-Pierre Chauvac and scrum-half Martin Doan also free up a place in the salary pool.

The arrival of the player trained in Toulouse is welcome. It will allow Karkadze and Paenga Amosa to breathe at the heels, overused for two months. His experience in the game and on the sidelines should be a plus in the Montpellier pack until the end of the season. 

Note that the Hérault club will lose Paenga-Amosa next season. Furthermore, the extension of the Georgian Vano Karkdaze (Jiff) is on very good track. 

Carbonel and Foursans, alone at the opening

Regarding Garbisi, nothing has leaked about his exact situation. The management of the MHR would no longer be interested in the Italian. The international (31 caps) arrives in the harbor to replace the Welshman Dan Biggar, who is having trouble with his back. His versatility – he can play center – works in his favor. Note that the Transalpine will be Jiff next season.

Last week, before the trip to Treviso, the player's entourage was not aware of a possible transaction. < em>"They say that there is no smoke without fire. But there, there is no smoke", we were told last week. Everything went very quickly to complete the file.

"Paolo, he never came to tell me that he wanted to leave. If he tells me that he wants to leave because his life is in Italy, I'm not going to tell him: “Shut up, you're staying here”. But for the moment I don't feel unhappy. He’s a competitor", confided Montpellier rugby director Bernard Laporte in the columns of Midi Libre. It is therefore in red and black that the future of the Venetian will take shape.

For the end of the season, at the opening, the MHR only has its two Louis: Carbonel and Foursans. The first, announced on departure since the appointment of Patrice Collazo at the head of the athlete, left to honor the end of his contract (2025). Even if Stade Français showed up. Carbonel is also one of the best Montpellier players since the arrival of the new staff. His relationship with Collazo does not seem to interfere with his level.

Also read: MHR: almost empty infirmary, renewed emulation, Jiff late, what a team against Pau this Saturday ?

In the event of a problem at the position or a call for Carbonel's selection, the Hérault staff can count on the versatility of fullback Anthony Bouthier, or even center Thomas Darmon.

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