Top 14: England's Danny Cipriani linked with Stade Francais; Riki Flutey set for comeback

27 December 2009

Paris giants Stade Francais are apparently courting England starlet Danny Cipriani, with a view to persuading the the 22-year-old to join them net season.

The London Wasps fly-half is currently on the comeback trail after recovering from a broken leg and is free to talk to other clubs in January as he nears the end of his existing one-year deal.

Le10sport.com claims Cipriani's representatives have already held provisional talks with Stade Francais earlier in December.

Stade are reportedly interested in acquiring his services after failing to plug the gap left by the departure of Argentine Juan Martin Hernandez. The latter, ironically, could also be back in Paris next season, although the in the sky blue colours of Racing-Métro 92 according to reports in the French press last week.

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If rumours of Stade's interest in Cipriani are true then it could prove difficult for London Wasps to hold on to their highly rated fly-half. French clubs remain financially powerful despite a recent agreement to introduce a salary cap, and Cipriani would seem to fit Stade's commercially glamorous ethos.

Furthermore, he would be joining up with former Wasps team-mates Tom Palmer and James Haskell, while fears about a French move jeopardizing England selection have been disproved by Martin Johnson calling up five players based in Top 14 during the recent November internationals.

Additionally, Johnson seems somewhat reluctant to entrust Cipriani with the responsibility of leading the England back line, whereas one feels the French may be more sympathetic to the player's penchant for the unpredictable. Thus, in many ways, it would seem to be a potential marriage made in heaven, although at this stage of the season there is bound to be plenty of speculation.

Lionel Beauxis and Noel Oelschig currently share the fly-half duties at Stade, although the latter is required in his more customary position of scrum-half right now following the 24-week ban handed down to Dupuy.

Stade have confirmed they will not be signing a 'medical joker' to cover for Dupuy's absence, preferring instead to put their faith in the players already at head coach Jacques Delmas' disposal. That means Oelschig and former Nottingham youngster Charlie Davies, who could now find himself becoming a regular member of Stade's match-day squads. They could also, at a push, utilise Mirco Bergamasco at No 9, although that would be something of a gamble.

Johnson may or may not be bothered by news of Cipriani being linked with a cross-Channel move, but he will surely be cheered by news that Riki Flutey is in line to make a playing comeback on Wednesday.

The England and British Lions centre has played just one game for Brive since moving from Wasps last season, but has been back in training for several weeks now following his recovery from shoulder surgery.

He is now expected to feature in Brive's away clash with derby rivals Clermont Auvergne on Wednesday, thus completing a strange double as his only previous outing for the Limousin club was in their 9-9 home draw with Clermont earlier in the season.

"I think I can play against Clermont and Perpignan, I'm really looking forward to it," Flutey said on Brive's website. "I will do my best. I hope to bring my experience and knowledge to the team and coaches, and help to build our game plan," he added.

Flutey is likely to be a substitute on Wednesday before pushing for a starting position in Brive's home game against Perpignan which follows on January 3rd.

Brive have also been bolstered by news that Alexis Palisson has recovered sufficiently from the shoulder injury picked up against London Irish, while second row Christian Short is also expected to play after brushing off his elbow injury.

On the injury front there was mixed news for Bayonne ahead of Wednesday's Round 16 home clash with in-form Racing Métro 92. Head coach Thierry Mentières will have to make do without prop Pierre-Philippe Lafond, who has been sidelined for up to three months following an operation on a herniated disc, but international winger Benjamin Fall should be available despite breaking his nose against London Wasps in the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Racing are also expected to welcome back fly-half Jonathan Wisniewski after the 24-year-old recovered quicker than anticipated from a back injury sustained in the 23-20 away win at Biarritz at the start of December.

Another player expected to make his Top 14 return on Wednesday is Toulon captain Joe van Niekerk, who has been out since sustaining a shoulder injury on November 21st. The influential South African should be in Toulon's squad against basement club SCA Albi, but Philippe Saint-André has injury doubts over Thomas Sourice and Sonny Bill Williams.

Stade Toulousain could also welcome back several internationals for their high-octane home clash with defending champions Perpignan. Former All Blacks scrum-half Byron Kelleher is expected to feature following recovery from a neck problem, while Grégory Lamboley, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and Yann David could also be in line for recalls after rejoining first-team training this week.

Bourgoin will be without several players for their trip to Biarritz, with Sylvain Nicolas, Tim Cowley, Anthony Forest and Alberto Di Bernardo all currently on their crock list, while centre David Janin is also uncertain.

The Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) has revealed that profits for the 2008/9 season were better than anticipated with the €64.5m turnover showing an increase of more than €3m on the previous season. The increase is good news for Top 14 clubs with their share also increasing - up from €37.9m in 2007/8 to €42.1m in 2008/9.

Finally, French rugby paper Midi Olympique has listed the best 10 players in Top 14 so far this season, according to its weekly rating system - 'les étoiles'. Top of the pile is the somewhat surprising figure of Bourgoin's Sylvain Nicolas, who has acquired 21 stars so far, with Castres duo Chris Masoe and Cameron McIntyre both tied in second place on 20. Toulon's Juan Manuel Fernandez Lobbe is fourth on 19, with club colleague Jonny Wilkinson tied in fifth spot on 18 with Racing's Sébastien Chabal.

Brive's Antonie Claassen was seventh (with 17), Stade Toulousain's Yann David eighth (with 16), while Biarritz's Imanol Harinordoquy and Stade Francais' Mathieu Bastareaud were tied in 10th place (with 15).

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