Top 14: Riki Flutey to return to
London Wasps after five-match Brive encounter
21 April 2010
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End of a misadventure: Riki
Flutey will not return to Brive
Photo: Michael Paler |
It's
been the longest drawn out exit of the season but French
media reports have now confirmed that Riki Flutey has
played his last game for Brive.
The
injury-plagued England centre has opted for a swift return
whence he came (London Wasps) after a failed season in
France during he managed just five matches for Brive.
Top 14 Transfers 2010/11
According to both L'Equipe and rugbyrama.com
Flutey's two-year contract has been terminated 12 months
early after both he and the club agreed it was the best way
forward.
Flutey
arrived amid a torrent of headlines and hopes that he would
help take the Limousin club forward, but his restricted
appearances and failure to integrate means that his
departure will not be mourned - not by the fans anyway.
His
lucrative contract has sadly proven a wasted investment for
Brive - in stark contrast to the high esteem in which
international colleague Jamie Noon is held - and it appears
there is relief on both sides that the 12-month misadventure
is now at an end.
Flutey's
season had already been ended by a recurrence of his
shoulder injury and now a club official has confirmed that
he will not be back in 2010/11.
"The
club, the player and his agent have agreed to an early
departure," said a Brive spokesman. "Brive accepts the
financial terms of the transfer," he added.
Rumours had abounded for months about
Flutey's apparent aloofness from the club, his partner's
dislike of the town and his reluctance to learn a new
language while out injured.
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.
He was initially tipped to
join Munster, but now it seems that his former club London
Wasps have won the race for his signature as he returns to
the comfort of familiar (and English-speaking) surroundings.
He follows fellow England international Andy Goode out of
the club, with Brive also deciding not to renew Christian
Short's contract as they seek a better balance between
French and foreign players.
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