Toulouse grant off-contract overseas back immediate release with star on open market

Toulouse Olympique have confirmed the immediate release of Cook Islands international Reubenn Rennie, who now enters the open market.

Auckland-born Rennie – who represents the Kuki’s via his heritage alongside older brother Vincent – had been with French outfit Toulouse since the beginning of the 2023 campaign.

Scoring 33 tries in 67 appearances across all competitions for Olympique, the centre helped fire them to the Championship title last season and had racked up ten games in Super League in their colours this term.

The 30-year-old was off-contract though, and with the French club not planning to extend his stay beyond the end of the campaign, an agreement has been reached for an immediate early exit from the Stade Ernest-Wallon.

Toulouse grant off-contract overseas back Reubenn Rennie immediate release with star on open market

Rennie had never played at first-grade level in the club game prior to signing for Toulouse, but had previously donned a shirt on the international stage for the Cook Islands, who he represented at the delayed 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

The veteran now has nine appearances for the Kuki’s on his CV, with three international tries scored. Those three all came in 2019, with a brace against South Africa in June that year added to a few months later with a try against the USA.

Super league outfit Toulouse announced his departure via a short press release which reads: “By mutual agreement, Reubenn Rennie and Toulouse Olympique decided to terminate, with immediate effect, the contract that bound them until the end of the season.

“Reubenn will have played 67 games under the Olympique colours, scoring 33 tries in four seasons.

“The club wishes Reubenn and his family all the best.”

Rennie – who is set to turn 31 in October – will now enter the open market and could be snapped up by another Super League club for the remainder of the year if a deal is finalised before August 21.

For now though, it remains unclear where his future lies, with the potential of a return Down Under on the cards.

The former New Zealand Māori representative has never played first-grade in Australia, but does have plenty of experience in second grade, with 45 tries scored in 111 New South Wales Cup appearances.

Rennie has starred in that competition for the reserves of Cronulla Sharks and Canterbury Bulldogs as well as the Newtown Jets and Mount Pritchard Mounties.