Henjak heads for Toulon

Sunday 06th July 2008

Shamed ex-Western Force scrum-half Matt Henjak, who was sacked earlier this year for breaking a team-mate's jaw in a brawl, has been signed by Top 14 new boys Toulon.

Henjak has been playing for the Park Royals club in the Canberra premier league over the past couple of months while he searched for a new club, and his long wait has now come to an end.

He will move to France's Var region for pre-season training on July 15 on a one-year contract with an option to extend by a year, and will fill the role vacated by George Gregan.

"It's taken a lot longer than I would have liked and in the last couple of months I was starting to wonder if I was ever going to get another opportunity," Henjak said.

"Some days I thought my days as a professional rugby player might have been over, but now I'm just glad I've got another chance. Initially I was obviously down when it all happened, but being back in Canberra and being around family, they never let me get down too much.

"The guys who I'm really close with at the Force like Gits (Matt Giteau) and Drew Mitchell, I still speak to pretty regularly."

Henjak still harbours hopes of a return to the ARU fold.

"Hopefully I haven't ruled myself out because of my actions and the ARU haven't put a line through my name," Henjak said.

"I'm just going to concentrate on enjoying my footy over in France. Who knows what the future might hold if I can play well over there."