Toulon’s Drew Mitchell has admitted he came close to joining Leinster three years ago.
The Aussie winger will line out in the Champions Cup final this weekend, as Toulon take on Clermont.
But it could have been very different for the 31 year-old.
He says it was a straight choice between the Cote d’Azur and D4 when he left Australia.
And the weather was the clincher.
"I was pretty sure it was time for me to move abroad” he said.
"I quickly narrowed my focus down to just a few clubs and it basically came down to Leinster and Toulon.
“Both clubs had very impressive set-ups, squads and strong histories both domestically and in Europe.”
"There were many factors that came into it for me when I talked to the two clubs.
"The climate was a factor. I'm a pretty well-known whinger when it's cold so I'm not sure if I would have been too good in the team environment when it came to winter time!
“The comfort of having my best mate Matt Giteau here was important”.
"I just felt Toulon were a better fit for me. I was on my own without a partner and kids and it was a help that Matt had his wife and kids too, so that helped me settle in.”
