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Staying put: Kris Chesney
Photo: Eoin Mundow/Cleva Media |
Kris Chesney will remain
at Toulon for another season after Sale Sharks confirmed he
had snubbed their offer of a two-year deal.
Sale announced two weeks
ago that 37-year-old Chesney would be joining them next
season, but that assertion was immediately denied by Toulon
owner Mourad Boudjellal -
as reported here on FRC.
Toulon see Chesney as a
vital cog in their squad, especially at the start of the
next season when Top 14 will operate in tandem with the 2011
Rugby World Cup.
Boudjellal said he was
"99% sure" that Chesney would remain when Sale trumpeted the
player's capture, and it now appears his confidence was well
placed.
On Thursday Sale conceded
defeat with executive director Steve Diamond claiming he was
let down by Chesney after the former Saracens player had
given a verbal agreement to join.
He accused Chesney of a
"lack of integrity" after the transfer fell through,
claiming Toulon's riches had proved the decisive factor.
"I knew the player and
thought he could have done a job for us, but it's not to be.
It's not an embarrassment to the club, it's an embarrassment
to the player. I know he's embarrassed and I've wished him
well with the extra money that Philippe Saint-André will pay
him," said Diamond.
A report in the Manchester
Evening News said Chesney's about-turn had been prompted by
Toulon offering him an extra £50,000 to remain with the
French club.
It went on to quote a
clearly bitter Diamond as saying the collapse of the deal
was "a blessing in disguise" and that he was stunned by how
matters unfolded. "In all of my dealings with players over
the past 12 years a verbal agreement is everything in law as
well as the shake of the hand," he said.
Elsewhere, the hunt has begun for defending champions
Clermont Auvergne to find a suitable replacement for
released Fijian winger Napolioni
Nalaga.
Wales' Shane Williams appeared to rule himself out after
announcing a contract extension with the Ospreys - although
given the Chesney developments no avenues are completely
shut - while two All Blacks have been mentioned as possible
replacements.
Jean-Marc Lhermet, who is head of recruitment at the
Auvergne club, admitted that Sitiveni Sivivatu, 28, was one
possible target, with Joe Rokocoko, 27, another option.
Rokocoko is out of contract with the Auckland Blues after
the World Cup and would seem the more likely to join.
