Top 14: Stade Francais demand England release James Haskell for weekend 'classico'

03 March 2010

Stade Francais have demanded that England release James Haskell for their weekend game against Stade Toulousain, with the Paris club denying there is any agreement in place with the RFU to allow the 24-year-old to rest.

The club versus country clash is the first real test of relations between the RFU and French clubs, and while it remains an isolated spat at present there are bound to be many interested onlookers.

The problem stems from the fact that France has released all of its squad back their respective clubs for this weekend's games, with club coaches expecting a similar arrangement from England. But the RFU has opted to retain the England starting XV against Ireland, meaning the likes of Haskell, Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon) and Riki Flutey (Brive) remain under Martin Johnson's control.

Wilkinson has a written agreement in his Toulon contract to abide by all EPS strictures, while the RFU enjoys an excellent working arrangement with Brive and their English CEO Simon Gillham. The Limousin club has happily abided by all England requests to date, making the likes of Flutey, Steve Thompson, Andy Goode and Jamie Noon readily available for training and selection if asked.

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But Stade Francais appear a different animal, and flamboyant president Max Guazzini is clearly flexing his muscles over Haskell. Part of the problem is the importance of this weekend's fixture against Stade Toulousain - being played at the Stade de France - with the Paris club in desperate need of a win to maintain their hopes of a top six finish, and qualification for next season's Heineken Cup.

Guazzini has already seen the likes of Julien Dupuy and David Attoub ruled out for the rest of the season due to their respective ERC bans, and he understandably wants his best available team out for Saturday's crucial match.

Stade have rebutted a claim by the RFU that a written agreement is in place to allow Haskell to remain in England and are now standing their ground.

"On Monday, Stade Francais - finding England international James Haskell absent from training - asked the back-rower to return immediately to France," said a club statement. "This period is not provided for in the IRB's international windows and Stade Francais have a big match against Stade Toulousain on Saturday.

"The RFU responded that they will refuse to release Haskell on the grounds that an agreement was signed between them and Stade Francais. No agreement has ever been signed with the RFU, contrary to what they claim. If it is so, the RFU can produce this so called agreement."

It went on: "The RFU have surely confused us with other clubs such as Toulon, who had to accept an agreement for this season relating to Jonny Wilkinson. Therefore, Stade Francais are ordering James Haskell, who has already missed two training sessions, to kindly rejoin his club urgently."

The Stade statement further added: "The RFU have signed agreements with English clubs, whom they reimburse for placing their international players at their disposition outside of IRB international windows. This is not the case for French clubs who, thus, do not have to fund the preparation of the England team."

Guazzini himself was also clear on the matter. "We were very generous before the start of the tournament for the training sessions. But this, this is the 'classico' with Toulouse at the Stade de France, this is not just another match for the club," he said. "The coaches can take the decision as to whether he plays or not, but he must at the very least be available for selection," added the Stade president.

It remains to be seen how this drama will play out, although a compromise with Haskell returning to France but not starting the match would seem the most logical conclusion.

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