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England concerns: James Haskell
Photo: Michael Paler |
England flanker James
Haskell is reported to be having second thoughts about his summer move to
Stade Francais after warnings it could jeopardize his international
career.
An article in The
Times claimed the 23-year-old was now reconsidering his switch from
Wasps following a four-page letter from RFU chief executive Francis Baron –
which was sent out to all England squad members.
The newspaper reported a
‘source’ saying: “James realises he has been hasty and has had things spelt
out to him. If it is a 50-50 call between two players for the same position,
then the English-based player will get the nod.”
Haskell was on the bench
for England’s weekend trouncing of France – having started the previous
match against Ireland – and The Times suggested his summer move to Stade
Francais was partly behind the decision.
No-one has openly stated
that was the case, however, and France-bound Riki Flutey – who is moving
from Wasps to Brive – did start the match.
The paper went on to
speculate whether Wasps would take Haskell back if he did decide on a
transfer u-turn – especially now they have already signed his replacement in
the shape of Bristol’s Dan Ward-Smith.
Scottish players appear
to have no such problems, however, with winger Sean Lamont their
latest international due to cross the Channel.
Lamont, who currently
plays for Northampton Saints, was in Brive this week for meetings
with club representatives ahead of a summer move to the in-form Top 14 side.
Rumours also persist
that the club – which already has more than half a dozen British
internationals on its books – is keen to tempt Leicester’s Irish full-back
Geordan Murphy to join them.
Elsewhere, Toulon’s
former All Black Jerry Collins has joined teammate Sonny Bill
Williams in the Barbarians’ squad to take on Australia in Sydney this
summer.
The historic June 6th
match – the first by a Barbarians team in Australia – is also set to feature
former England captain Martin Corry and Toulon-bound hooker Sebastien Bruno,
with the tourists managed and coached by Dai Young and Mike Catt.
Meanwhile, Toulon
have released South African hooker Tiaan Liebenberg with immediate
effect.
The injury-plagued
Liebenberg has struggled to make an impact in France since his summer move
and is now flying home to return to his former club the Stormers.
“Everything happened
quite quickly,” admitted Liebenberg, who is likely to go straight into the
Stormers line-up following a knee ligament injury to Deon Fourie.
“I missed home and the
Stormers setup,” he told RossSkeate.com. “You want to be in a setup
where you play firstly and you can enjoy it and the experience.”
Good news comes in three
it seems for Montpellier. The Top 14 club has won both of its matches
since sacking head coach Didier Nourault, and now it looks like French
international flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo is set to extend his
contract at the club.
Ouedraogo had verbally agreed a new deal earlier in the
season before the club’s presidential shenanigans immediately threw that in
doubt.
But stability appears to
be returning, amid further news that the Nicollin family is set to invest in
the club, with father Louis becoming a sponsor and son Olivier in line to
become president.
A meeting of directors
is due to be held on Wednesday to discuss the proposals.
Finally,
the double international call for Stade Toulousain’s
Frederic Michalak and William Servat has forced a re-jig of the
French Barbarians’ XV to play the President’s XV in Toulouse on
Sunday.
Stade Francais’ Argentine scrum-half
Agustin Pichot comes in for Michalak, with Servat’s replacement yet to
be confirmed.
