Top 14 - Hill keen on French challenge;
Laporte seeks to shut door on foreigners
09 January 2009
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Richard Hill - Wanted
Photo: Michael Paler |
Are
French clubs, especially in Top 14, becoming over-reliant on
overseas stars?
It has
been the hot topic of discussion all season and it shows no
signs of abating with Secretary of Sport Bernard Laporte
adding his weight to the controversy this week amid rumours
concerning the
possible signings of yet more
‘etrangers’.
On
Thursday Sale’s former Scotland captain Jason White became
the latest overseas player to sign for a French club –
Clermont in his case – and on Friday there were further
reports that Richard Hill, coach of English club
Bristol, could swell the ranks of the foreign contingent
even further next season.
The
highly regarded former England scrum-half has won plaudits
for keeping the cash-strapped west-country club in the
Guinness Premiership, and it appears his skills have been
noted across the Channel, with Montauban reportedly keen to
acquire his services following confirmation their current
coaching team is heading for Castres.
“I do
not want to comment beyond saying that I do have options in
France next season,” said Hill.
Meanwhile, Clermont have not only confirmed the
signing of White for next season, but also that of former
New Zealand rugby league international Tasesa Lavea.
The
28-year-old Chiefs fly-half/centre will, like White, join up
with Les Jaunards for next season.
Further
speculation throughout this season has linked the likes of
Bryan Habana, Danny Cipriani and Matt Giteau with big-money
moves to France, although of those it appears that only
Cipriani’s capture is a truly realistic possibility.
Still,
with French clubs now apparently willing to pay the highest
salaries in world rugby it seems the ‘problem’ of overseas
players is a mounting issue which is attracting increasing
column inches.
Indeed,
Sale owner Brian Kennedy – also set to lose Sebastian
Chabal, Philippe Saint-Andre and possibly Luke McAlister to
France next season – admitted that finance was making it
impossible for British clubs to compete.
“France
seem to have far more money than we do to throw around,” he
said. “We only have a limited amount and couldn’t match what
Jason was offered. Rugby is a business and players and clubs
have to do what is best for them.”
He
added: “The credit crunch is making it hard for clubs in
England to be solvent. That is driving things. You can’t
keep on losing money and clubs have to learn to stand on
their own two feet.”
But
while Top 14 fans, administrators and players revel in the
likes of Dan Carter joining their league it seems that not
all overseas stars are being universally welcomed, with the
health of the French national team and traditional club
identities being cited as reasons for limiting the influx.
The
problem, of course, lies with European laws which allow
freedom of movement and employment – a tricky conundrum to
solve as former national coach Laporte admitted this week.
Laporte highlighted the plight of troubled
Toulon as an example of the current dilemma facing some
French clubs.
“Toulon
is in a precious situation. That’s a pity,” he said in a
television interview. “They have just been promoted and I
believe that they will struggle to avoid relegation. When
one speaks to Aubin Hueber the will is not there. There is
not the spirit, the heart, which used to be the foundation
of Toulon rugby.
“When I
look at this Toulon team there are three French players.
It’s hard to say that 12 foreign players represent an
identity, a culture, the supporters who love the jersey.
“When
you went to play at Stade Mayol in days gone by you were
scared because of the bond between team and public. Today
that no longer exists. I believe that Toulon has got the
ration between French and foreign players wrong. They come
to Toulon but they could go elsewhere,” he said.
The
Secretary of Sport added: “On the last day of the Top 14
last season there were 55% French players in the Top 14. In
2006 it was 75%. Obviously we must take notice. It’s no
longer a joke.”
Laporte
said the influx of foreign players had “caused the demise of
rugby league in France” and said a similar situation could
now threaten the union code.
“I will
do everything to keep rugby’s head above water. It is
important that each club have a number of players eligible
for selection to the national team. What does it help if
each team has 15 foreign players?
“I am
not against the principle of having foreign players but the
number should be controlled. The ECC speaks of freedom of
movement but we are asking for an exception in sport to keep
the culture and spirit of the sport. Sport cannot be
regarded in the same way as a firm,” he stressed.
They
sound like reasonable ideals but the truth is that sport is
major business now and clubs must be viewed as a “firm” – as
highlighted by FC Auch Gers’ current financial
problems in Pro D2.
Discussions remain ongoing in an effort to stave off the
threat of liquidation due to a financial hole of 650,000
euros, with players still split about taking a salary cut to
help ease the burden.
Politics
continues behind the scenes with club chairman Bernard
Laffitte stepping aside in light of the latest developments,
being replaced temporarily by Eric Beloussof – head of
retail outlet and major club backer Le Clerc.
Representatives from LNR and Provale – the players’ union –
remain hopeful that a viable solution can be found.
A week
of negotiations ended with the mediating group releasing a
statement to say: “We believe that so far all hope is not
lost and that the club still has an important opportunity to
get out of the crisis.”
Elsewhere, controversial Fijian winger Rupeni
Caucaunibuca was in the court of arbitration on Friday
after Racing Metro ’92 lodged a complaint following the
player’s return to play for Agen in Pro D2.
The
Paris club claims Caucaunibuca – who walked out on Agen last
season - had already signed a pre-contract deal agreeing to
join them.
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