News: Reports claim Haskell set to snub Stade Francais; Skrela doubtful for Cardiff

The 23-year-old Wasps star is said to have suffered cold feet about his proposed French switch amid fears it will negatively affect his international prospects.

So far Haskell has only signed a ‘letter of intent’ to join Stade Francais, and is thus not legally bound to complete the move. Yet, this latest revelation comes just days after he had confirmed that he would be joining the Paris giants, despite the fact he felt like the “most hated man in world rugby” after his intentions were made public.

In an interview with The Times last week Haskell said the attraction of joining Stade was not solely down to money.

“I wanted to go somewhere that was a real change, not just down the road, to learn a different language, play a different style of rugby, to mature as a person and get away from some of the misnomers that surround me,” he said.

But clearly the talented back-row is in something of a state of flux, with the RFU’s hardening stance apparently confirmed when he lost his England place to Tom Croft during the recently concluded Six Nations Championship.

That may have triggered doubts in Haskell’s mind, along with personal attacks from such luminaries as Brian Moore and Lawrence Dallaglio, who both questioned the wisdom of his move to Top 14.

Stade Francais have so far been remarkably quiet about Haskell’s seeming indecision – in public at least – but they are unlikely to be impressed by the player’s open prevarication.

A letter of intent may not be legally binding but it doesn’t take a genius to understand Stade coach Ewen McKenzie being highly frustrated by the ongoing doubts.

If Haskell does ultimately decide to reject the Stade offer then it will cap a miserable few weeks for the men in pink, after losing four of their last five league games – including a first ‘home’ defeat by Clermont Auvergne in 98 years when they went down 21-19 at the Stade de France on Saturday.

Meanwhile, over at the other Stade – defending champions and current Top 14 leaders Toulousain – the build-up to Saturday’s Heineken Cup clash with Cardiff Blues continued with the almost routine medical bulletin announcing doubts about David Skrela’s fitness.

The international fly-half only returned from a lengthy lay-off at the weekend for Stade’s 42-10 romp at Brive, but his participation in Saturday’s quarter-final is now in doubt after sustaining a rib injury.

Toulouse do at least have options at fly-half with Frederic Michalak ready to step in, although Guy Noves’ preferred stand-in (at stand-off) would probably be Jean-Baptiste Elissalde – himself struggling to be fit for the trip.

But the wise old coach will at least be cheered by the weekend return to action of Byron Kelleher, following two months out with strained knee ligaments. The former All Black scrum-half had been in scintillating form this season until his injury, leading the club’s try-scoring charts with seven.

Elsewhere in France the sad demise of ProD2 outfit FC Auch Gers continued at the weekend with confirmation that four of its players have signed to join Colomiers next season. Gregory Mankarska, Saklusa Matadigo, Frederic Couzier and Sebastien Bortolucci are the first players to leave since club president Eric Belooussoff announced there was a“99% chance” Auch would go bankrupt.

This follows the falling apart of a financial rescue package initially agreed with Textilot.

In other news, France international Sebastien Chabal is reportedly being lined up to play for a Namibian Invitational XV against the Springboks in late May.

The Namibian Rugby Union (NRU) has contacted Chabal, Butch James and CJ van der Linde to play in the May 29^th match in Windhoek – a warm up game for the South Africans ahead of the British Lions tour.