Michalak announces he's leaving Toulouse

Former France five-eighth Frederic Michalak announced on Wednesday he was leaving four-time European champions Toulouse for an unspecified club.

The mercurial 28-year-old - capped 54 times and a member of the last two World Cup squads - said he was disappointed to be leaving, though, he added he could yet stay on in the unlikely event of an agreement being reached over an extension of his contract.

"I hope to bounce back elsewhere, in France or abroad," said Michalak, who began his career at Toulouse at the age of 18.

Michalak - whose links to the NSW Waratahs was denied by coach Chris Hickey - has failed to win back his starting place since returning from South African Super rugby side the Sharks, with whom he won the Currie Cup in 2008, though his 2009/10 campaign was ruined by a serious knee injury.

The club had offered to extend his contract but only if he played at scrum-half - but he is determined to play at fly-half.

His place at the club - with whom he has won one French title and two European Cups - came under more pressure last week when it was announced another former France fly-half Lionel Beauxis, Waratahs scrum-half Luke Burgess, and All Black Luke McAlistair, who can play at centre and fly-half, had all signed for next season.