Toulon pull the pin on their four-try hero

New Zealander David Smith, the top try-scorer in the French championship this season, has been squeezed out of his contract with European champions Toulon.

The former Hurricanes and Blues wing scored a record four tries against Brive last weekend to take his season tally to 12 from 13 games – and then confirmed he would be looking for a deal elsewhere for next season.

Toulon’s recruitment of international stars and the French rule that says squads must have 60 per cent of their players come through French academies means there is no room for Smith moving forward.

Toulon have Boks star Bryan Habana and former Wallabies wing Drew Mitchell on their books, yet Smith is more than keeping them honest and has developed into a real fan favourite at Toulon since joining there in 2011.

‘‘I’m going to miss everyone. I’m a little sad but c’est la vie. Toulon does not want to keep me in the squad for next season. I would like to stay but it’s like that. I will give my all to Toulon during the three months to arrive. I want to leave the club with new titles. Toulon will remain forever in my heart,’’ Smith told French sports paper L’Equipe.

Pau and Castres have been mentioned as clubs interested in picking up Smith.

Toulon manager Bernard Laporte described Smith is an ‘‘excellent player’’ and that the club was disappointed to lose him.

‘‘Of course we would like to keep him," Laporte said. ‘‘David, you know the problem is the JIFF (academy system). In certain positions you need to make a choice. French players are under contract [elsewhere] so we can’t have them so there’s just not enough room.’’

Smith, 28, has qualified to play for France and was involved in a wider training squad at the start of the season but he wasn’t used in the November internationals nor has he seen any action in the Six Nations.

His latest exploits make him just the fourth player to score four tries in a Top 14 game, joining Rupeni Caucaunibuca, Napalioni Nalaga and Sam Gerber.