Top 14: Toulon target Shane Williams to join wide-boy Paul Sackey; Bai signs for Castres

17 February 2010

Paul Sackey has spoken out against those who claimed his move to Top 14 next season was being driven by money alone.

The England international last week announced his intention to leave London Wasps in the summer for an as yet unconfirmed French team – widely believed to be Toulon – prompting many to say his decision had been taken for financial reasons alone.

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But the 30-year-old winger told Sky Sports News that it was also time for a change to refresh his enthusiasm for playing professional rugby.

“It’s not about the money,” he explained. “I’ve stayed at Wasps for so many years when I could have gone. I’m at that stage in my career when I need a new challenge; I need a new lease of life.

“I think a move away from Wasps at this moment in time is probably a good step for me – it will probably make me more enthusiastic about the game. It was a very hard decision for me. I love the staff, I love the players – I have my friends there. It’s probably the hardest decision I’ve had to make, but I’ve made my decision now – I’ve just got to go with it and make the best out of it. I’m definitely not going for the money. I would have stayed at Wasps for a little bit more,” he added.

There’s no doubt Sackey will have canvassed views from fellow England internationals currently plying their trade in France, with former club colleagues James Haskell, Tom Palmer and Riki Flutey likely to have top of his consulting list.

Flutey’s season has been severely disrupted by injury and now international calls, but Palmer and Haskell have both settled well at Stade Francais, with the latter emerging as a better player and stronger personality on the back of his own move.

Indeed, Haskell was singled out for heavy criticism from the British press – and ex-England players such as Lawrence Dallaglio – when he announced his switch, but 12 months later he is now considered a regular at both club and national level, despite fears his transfer could see him drop off the England radar.

“I have matured as a player. Going to Stade, I have restarted my career,” said Haskell last week. “I had been a fan of Wasps since I was young and I had got to know the players. I was slightly ahead of the game and I didn’t really have the academy lifestyle. It was running before I could walk in certain in respects and my maturity on the field and off it matched up with that,” he admitted.

“I needed a change. I don’t know if changing clubs in England would have had the same effect. I wanted to get out of the spotlight and earn my spurs,” Haskell explained.

It may seem odd that a player seeking to shun the media spotlight should move to Paris, but Haskell insists the short trip across the Channel has had the desired effect – as witnessed by his two-try performance for England against Wales in the opening round of the RBS Six Nations.

“I have had a second chance at things and maybe not made the same mistakes I did when I joined Wasps straight from school. The improvements I have made on the field are echoed with me betting better as an individual off the field. Moves don’t always work out for everyone but if things hadn’t worked out then I would have disappeared into the ether,” he said.

Sackey, no doubt, has also had a word in the ear of Jonny Wilkinson – currently revered in Toulon for the impact he has made both on and off the pitch. The former Newcastle Falcons player has rediscovered both his form and his fitness down on the Cote d’Azur and has recently signed a one-year contract extension to underline his own contentedness.

One of the keys to high regard Wilkinson is currently held in is the fact he has learned French as well, and Sackey – in common with all other ‘foreigners’ – will be expected to take lessons at least twice a week to help him master the language.

But he won’t be isolated by his lack of French initially, with Toulon now arguably the most cosmopolitan club in Top 14, with a squad compiled of players from Britain, South Africa, Fiji, Tonga, Argentina, Georgia, Australia and New Zealand – oh, and a few French as well.

And if rumours in the French press are to be believed Sackey could yet be joined by yet another “etranger” next season, with Welsh wing wizard Shane Williams apparently still being courted by club president Mourad Boudjellal as he seeks to finance a squad which could compete in next season’s Heineken Cup – provided Toulon qualify.

Williams, 32, is coming to the end of his professional career and a final pay-day in the French sun could be just the ticket for the former IRB Player of the Year to sign off with.

The Ospreys are likely to allow him to leave despite having a year left on his contract as they have a group of emerging young wingers ready to fill Williams’ boots, although their reluctance to allow James Hook to depart (to Perpignan) remains steadfast.

There has still been no official confirmation that Sackey will be joining Toulon – although the player himself has announced his departure for France – but one transfer that has now been sealed is that of Fijian utility back Sérémaia Bai, who will move from Clermont Auvergne to Castres in the summer.

The 31-year-old international, who can play at fly-half, full-back or on the wing, has agreed a two-year deal to join Castres as Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers seek to strengthen a squad which has proved the surprise package in Top 14 so far this season.

Bai’s capture follows confirmation that former All Black flanker Chris Masoe has also put to paper on an extended new deal, finally quashing suggestions that he could depart for Clermont.

Castres, meanwhile, beat Stade Francais 10-0 in a friendly match at Erbajolo de Bastia in Corsica on Friday night, with tries from Matthieu Bourret and Marc Andreu.

Andrew Mehrtens, another former All Black, has also revealed he has no plans to change clubs despite not being a regular starter for Racing-Metro 92 this season. The 37-year-old is now behind Jonathan Wisniewski in the fly-half pecking order, but told Midi Olympique he is more than happy in Paris.

“At my age it is normal not to be starting too many matches but rugby is all I have and I do not want to stop. Playing 80 minutes of a game is now a challenge for me, but I am really committed to this club and I want to stay in France,” he reaffirmed.

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