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Paris bound? Wilkinson could
join Balshaw at Racing Metro
Photo: Michael Paler |
England international Iain Balshaw has signed to play for French Pro D2 club Racing Metro 92
next season, according to a report in L'Equipe.
The Gloucester full-back, capped 35 times by England, is the latest
high-profile player to be linked with the Pro D2 leaders.
He could
be joined in Paris by his World Cup winning colleague Jonny Wilkinson, and
the cash-rich Parisians are also chasing Sebastien Chabal.
But
Balshaw, 29, is the club's first confirmed signing as they seek to build a
squad that could hold its own in Top 14 - should they secure promotion.
Balshaw
has been at Gloucester since 2006, following previous spells with Bath and
Leeds Tykes.
He has
been overlooked of late by England manager Martin Johnson, with the emerging
talent of Delon Armitage now looking to cement the number 15 shirt.
Meanwhile,
Pro D2 outfit Pau were counting the cost of their weekend win
following confirmation that veteran Russian Savia Gratchev is likely to be
out of action for up to nine months.
The
35-year-old suffered a multi-ligament sprain and a fractured tibia during
the win against Agen.
Dates have
now been confirmed for the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals,
which feature both Brive and Bourgoin.
Bourgoin
are in action first, travelling to London Irish on Thursday April 9th, while
Brive go to Worcester on Saturday 11th.
The other
two ties - Northampton against Connacht, and Saracens versus Newcastle
Falcons - both take place on Sunday 12th.
More news
is leaking out about the ongoing agent scandal in French rugby with Agen's
general manager Laurent Lubrano confirming that he had assisted police with
their investigation.
"Like
other leaders of professional clubs I have been heard as a witness following
a complaint filed in 2006 by the FFR and LNR, to clarify the conditions for
transfer of several players, especially the activities of two agents - one
licensee and the other not," he said.
Officials
from Brive, Narbonne, Albi, Tarbes, Beziers, Montpellier, Biarritz and
several Federale 1 clubs have also been questioned this week.
Toulon's
rebirth continues under Philippe Saint-Andre's guidance with confirmation
this week that president Mourad Boudjellal plans a comprehensive overhaul of
the club's training grounds.
"The club
will finally have facilities worthy of the Top 14," confirmed Boudjellal
this week.
There are
plans for a new 300m2 gym and a state-of-the-art medical suite, with work
due to start on February 15.
Elsewhere,
Bayonne have taken a novel approach to the international break - on Thursday
the squad went to Iraty for a spot of hiking... on snowshoes.
