Top 14: Shoulder injury ends Riki
Flutey's season, but Jamie Noon extends his stay
17 April 2010
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Injured again: Riki Flutey
Photo: Michael Paler |
Riki
Flutey's troubled debut season with Brive has
finished as it began - with the player sidelined by a
shoulder injury.
The
England international - who is reportedly still keen on a
return to the UK - has managed just five matches for the
French club this season, one more than he's played for
England.
He was
initially ruled out at the start of the campaign after
requiring surgery for the injury he picked up while on duty
with the British and Irish Lions. He did manage to play one
match after returning to Brive at the conclusion on the Six
Nations, but it now seems that further surgery could be on
the cards after aggravating the same shoulder.
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The 30-year-old was
trumpeted as a marquee signing when he joined from Wasps in
the close season but Brive will feel they have been
short-changed after the Kiwi-born centre has managed just
five games for the Limousin club during a trying campaign.
They will travel to
Bayonne today (Saturday) once more without their highest
paid player, in stark contrast to the playing hours put in
by fellow England centre Jamie Noon. The former
Newcastle player has missed just one league match this
season - when he was rested - and such is the mutual respect
of both club and player that Noon has now extended his
two-year deal by a further two seasons.
"I'm loving it here in
France," Noon told frenchrugbyclub.com. "My
family has settled really well and I'm enjoying the
lifestyle and the rugby," he added. "When we were offered
another two years here my wife and I jumped at the
opportunity and I might even stay in France beyond my
playing career if I can sort out a job over here."
Elsewhere, former Stade Francais star Juan
Martin Hernandez has confirmed that he is in talks with
Paris rivals Racing-Métro 92, although he insists
that no deal has yet been signed.
The Argentine
international - known as 'El Magico' in France - was
effectively shunted out by Stade Francais before the start
of the season as they sought to free up funds to sign
scrum-half Julien Dupuy from Leicester Tigers.
The hugely talented
Hernandez duly signed for South Africa's Natal Sharks on a
one-year deal, but has made no secret of his desire to
return to Top 14. His South African sojourn was cut short by
a back injury, but he has long-been tipped to join Pierre
Berbizier's Racing side this summer. But now it seems there
could be competition for his signature.
"I am in talks with
several clubs, not only with Racing," he told L'Equipe.
"When it was announced that everything had already been set
with Racing it was not true. There are rumours about my
future and I want to deny them," he added.
Racing head coach
Berbizier confirmed the two parties had met and talked but
also said that no deal had yet been finalized.
Hernandez is currently
recuperating from the back operation he underwent in
January, but should be fit enough to start training again in
July.
His former Stade
Francais colleagues, meanwhile, were forced to endure a
lengthy bus journey to Albi yesterday after flights down to
Toulouse were cancelled due to the ongoing fallout from the
volcanic ash cloud causing travel chaos throughout western
Europe.
Hopes they could travel by
train were then dashed by a French rail strike, forcing the
Parisians to opt for the only option still available to them
- journeying by bus.
Biarritz have also
been affected, with the Basques unable to fly to Paris on
Friday for their crucial clash with Racing-Métro 92. Club
president Serge Blanco said they were still hopeful of
flying up - in two batches - on Saturday morning, but if
that proved impossible they would have to follow Stade
Francais' lead and take the bus.
In that case Blanco said
he would ask the LNR to delay their Saturday night match
until Sunday, although no announcement has yet been made.
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