Toulon assistant coach Andrea Masi said on Thursday they are “extremely disappointed” to be losing New Zealand winger Leicester Fainga’anuku at the end of the season.
Fainga’anuku will return to the Crusaders at the end of the French Top 14 campaign in June after two years in southern France.
The 24-year-old has been ineligible for the All Blacks since joining Toulon.
“We’re very disappointed to lose him, he’s an exceptional player,” Masi told reporters.
“We know he still has a very important role to play for us this season and he’ll give his best until the end.”
Fainga’anuku made the last of his seven New Zealand appearances at the 2023 Rugby World Cup and has scored nine tries in 19 games for Toulon, featuring also at centre.