Top 14: Stade Francais accuse RFU of 'shameful blackmail' over Haskell affair

05 March 2010

The ongoing public spat between Stade Francais and the RFU - over James Haskell's non-release - could eventually end up in court.

That was the latest threat from angry Stade president Max Guazzini after he finally appeared to lose his battle to get Haskell released to play against Stade Toulousain this weekend.

Guazzini has insisted he has no problems with the player himself - who he feels is being blackmailed to stay in England by the RFU - but that still hasn't prevented the flamboyant owner from threatening legal action against Haskell for breach of contract.

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"It is shameful, this blackmail," Guazzini told BBC Sport. "I am very sorry it has come to this. The RFU is keeping him prisoner. Frankly, I find their attitude lacks respect. It's immoral. It is not my fault England lost to Ireland at Twickenham," he said.

"They have put intolerable pressure on the player and I find that unfair. He is the poor one in all this. I like James Haskell. I know that they have not the right to do that. In my mind, they have told James that if he goes to Stade Francais that he will not be in the England team. I'm sure it's that. That is unacceptable," he added.

Guazzini went on to claim that he had based his pre-match promotion around Haskell and added that "we are going to have a hard legal fight" as he weighed up the club's future options.

Guazzini has maintained all week that Stade have respected their contract with Haskell, demanding the player's release because this is not an official IRB international week. England, by contrast, have said they have reassurances from Haskell's lawyer that his contract does allow him to remain with the national team, regardless of the fact there is no international match this weekend. Guazzini's ire has been further stoked by the fact that France, Italy and Scotland have released their international players for club duty this weekend, and also because English clubs are financially compensated for the loss of internationals, but not French clubs.

"Why can't they [the RFU] have an accord with the French clubs? I'm asking what compensation can the RFU give to the French clubs? It's me who is paying the player. The RFU take the players and do all this outside the IRB window," he added.

The truth is that the RFU has been spoiling for a fight with French clubs ever since the likes of Riki Flutey, Jonny Wilkinson and Haskell upped sticks and crossed the Channel last summer. Now, on the same day that Toulon unveiled England winger Paul Sackey to the French press, they have opted to stand their ground and await the consequences.

The loser in all of this, of course, is Haskell. The player himself has been put in an intolerable position with both his club and his country vying for his commitment. The RFU remains deeply unhappy that England internationals in France officially fall outside their multi-million pound release agreement - which only holds with English clubs - and it now seems they are trying to lay down a marker which could have wide-ranging ramifications for those not plying their trade in the Guinness Premiership.

"We always knew something like this might happen," admitted Rob Andrew, the RFU's director of elite rugby. He then, somewhat disingenuously, attempted to parry the finger of blame back on to Haskell himself.

"We can only go on an understanding from the player or his advisers, which we have got. We simply set out the ground rules for players. They have to be available when Martin [Johnson] wants them," said Andrew. "The position is between the player and the club. There is no issue here between the RFU and Stade Francais. We've never said that there was any agreement on paper," he added.

The sight of Andrew calmly washing his hands of the affair is hardly likely to appease Guazzini, and one can't help but feel for Haskell as he gets hounded from both directions.

"We need our players to do what we think is right for them," said Johnson. "It's James's understanding that he is doing nothing wrong," he added.

The real issue here is not now, but next season. The 2011 World Cup is looming and England have both international friendlies and training sessions planned for outside the IRB's stipulated release periods. It seems the RFU believe it's better to get in a fire-fight now than somewhere down the line next year, but the ramifications could be serious. What will happen if English internationals are involved in the end-of-season play-off final - due to be played on May 29th, and how will that affect their inclusion on planned summer tours?

"We can't have all sorts of fights and compromises," warned Andrew. "Everything has got to be covered."

The reality is that England could easily have allowed Flutey, Wilkinson and Haskell to have played this weekend, but chose not to. They could have asked for players to have had a limited role, but opted against that. Public sympathy in France is most definitely with Stade Francais and Haskell. Why, they ask, is England being so intransigent when France - which is chasing the cherished Grand Slam - has happily allowed its internationals to play for their clubs this weekend.

In that light it is hard not to view the RFU's stance as antagonistic, no matter how Johnson and Andrew attempt to present it. That, in turn, is likely to make French clubs think twice about signing current England internationals in the future and 'voila', the RFU will have achieved what it first set out to do.   

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