European Rugby Champions Cup
Toulon backs laid low by flu
ESPN Staff
January 15, 2015
Ali Williams will retire at the end of the season © Getty Images
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An outbreak of flu has seen a number of Toulon's top players laid low this week.

Only Drew Mitchell avoided the bug with the rest of their backs avoiding training this week to recover. Mitchell is joined in the matchday squad for the weekend's match against Ulster by Bryan Habana, Leigh Halfpenny, Matt Giteau, Maxime Mermoz, Mathieu Bastareaud, Rudi Wulf, Eric Escande, Nicolas Sanchez and Sebastien Tillous-Borde.

And in other news from the Toulon camp, their World Cup-winning second-row Ali Williams will retire at the end of the season. Williams, 33, arrived at Toulon in 2013 and helped guide them to the Heineken Cup and Top 14 titles last term.

"I find it hard to accept, but I have to listen to my body," Williams said. "I cannot train all week and then I can't be at my best in every game. I've been playing for 15 years, it's time to step aside. I want to finish well in going all the way in both competitions with Toulon."

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