Escaping the "bubble" of Australian sport could be the best thing for ex-NRL star Ben Barba, according to his new Toulon teammate Drew Mitchell.
Barba will link up with the French Top 14 club this week as they prepare for the Brisbane Global Rugby Tens, although he has been blocked from playing in the tournament by the Australian Rugby Union.
Last week he signed a $2.5-million deal across two and a half years with Toulon, defecting from Cronulla after copping a 12-week ban from the NRL for testing positive to cocaine in the days after their grand final victory.
The 27-year-old hasn't played rugby union before but Mitchell - one of five Australians now contracted to the club - believes he will probably relish the change of scenery in the south of France.
"Hopefully (he goes) well. I'd prefer to just be talking about his footy - I don't know him at all, or whatever else has happened," Mitchell said.
"He'll be completely out of the spotlight, you're completely left to your own devices.
"You go to football and that's pretty much the last time you think of it - as soon as you go home it's nothing about football, you don't have to worry about anything or anyone trying to catch you out or doing things.
"For that, it's really good, guys that want to get away from the bubble that it is here with the media and stuff in Australia."
But Mitchell also warned expectations are always high at Toulon - particularly when it comes to owner Mourad Boudjellal, a maverick comic book magnate renown for lashing out at his players in the press when they underperform.
Boudjellal cancelled the team's holidays after slumping to a home loss last week and famously described Quade Cooper as "pâté" compared to the "foie gras" of retired English five-eighth Jonny Wilkinson.
"With the owner that we have, he expects results pretty quickly, and also the supporters we have, they make an opinion of you pretty quickly as well," Mitchell said.
"You've got to make sure you start well.
"I wouldn't have a clue (where he would play) but he's pretty handy at the back. It's probably a little bit different because of the kicking and tactical game side of things.
"But he's one of those guys who could probably add anything anywhere along the backline."
Meanwhile, Mitchell has confirmed he is seeking a return to Super Rugby and admits he could be tempted to join the Brumbies.
The former NSW Waratahs winger's contract with the French glamour club expires in June and the 32-year-old is keen to finish his career in Australia.
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham last week said he was interested in signing Mitchell and former skipper Matt Giteau, who will also leave Toulon at the end of the European season and has committed to playing in the Japanese Top League from November.
Both players could join the Brumbies early if they are able to convince maverick Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal to grant them releases.
"Where my head's at, I'm leaning towards coming home," Mitchell told reporters on Tuesday.
"(I'm) maybe open to the Brumbies, not so much about being open to Canberra. I don't know how I'd do there.
"I've spoken about wanting to come home and finish but they're discussions I've got to have with people at home - whether they want to, or whether they want you to could be two different things. Hopefully it's not.
"I've been speaking with Mourad a couple of times but unfortunately I got injured, so those talks have been put on ice. I'm not really too sure where I stand with him."
Mitchell said he had played just three games in the last 10 months due to injury and was excited at the chance to play at Suncorp Stadium again after recently recovering from a torn hamstring.
Former Wallaby James O'Connor, Japanese international Ayumu Goromaru and Fiji's Olympic gold medallist Josua Tuisova are also in Toulon's squad but Giteau, Liam Gill and former All Black Ma'a Nonu have been left in France.
"Toulon haven't ever toured down in the southern hemisphere and to come home, especially where I grew up, is pretty special," Mitchell said.
"This break falls in a week off for the boys during the Six Nations for us, so a lot of guys who have played a lot of minutes are resting up back home.
"It's a good opportunity for guys like myself, James O'Connor as well - we've got family and friends who are going to be out there this weekend and also just to catch up with all the Super Rugby boys who are going to be there and play against them."
AAP
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