News: Racing Metro confirm their interest in signing
Wilkinson, Chabal, Nallet and Steyn
17 February
2009
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Wanted: England World Cup
hero Jonny Wilkinson
Photo: Michael Paler |
Pro D2's
runaway leaders Racing Metro have confirmed they are lining
up some of rugby's biggest names for summer transfers as
they strengthen their squad for Top 14 action.
Sale's
French icon Sebastien Chabal has apparently signed a
pre-contract agreement to join the ambitious Paris club, as
long as it secures promotion. The same deal is also on the
cards for Chabal's national team captain Lionel Nallet,
currently unhappy at Castres.
The
second row pair played together previously at Bourgoin and
have been tempted to join forces again in Paris after an
earlier agreement to sign for Montpellier fell through.
Racing
have also been linked throughout the season with England
World Cup hero Wilkinson, and this coach Pierre Berbizier
confirmed they were keen on signing the injury-prone
fly-half.
South
Africa's fellow World Cup winner Francois Steyn is also on
their luxury shopping list, although the highly talented
Springbok has only recently signed a contract extension with
his national union.
Money is
clearly not a problem for the cash-rich club as it seeks to
build a player roster to rival that of its flamboyant city
rivals Stade Francais.
"We will
see about the arrival of Nallet and Chabal," said Berbizier.
"These are players who are interesting us, as are a good few
others. Steyn and why not Wilkinson? I have to admit that
all these links are good," he added.
According to reports in the French press Racing's owner
Jacky Lorenzetti was in South Africa at the weekend to try
and tempt Steyn to sign, although the player's agent Gerrie
Stewart appears to be playing hard ball.
"Yes, Frans has been approached by Racing
Metro and I have been in correspondence with them over the
past few months. However, Frans is contracted with the
Sharks until the end of the Currie Cup and with the
Springboks until the end of the year, so nothing can happen
until then," he said.
"There
is a lot being said about Racing," confirmed Berbizier, "but
at the moment the president is in South Africa and we will
see where he is up to when he returns."
The club
has consistently been linked with high-profile recruits over
the past couple of months but it seems their weekend victory
over promotion rivals SU Agen - which lifted them 10 points
clear - has finally given them the confidence to openly
state their intentions.
Only one
club gets guaranteed promotion from Pro D2, with the next
four playing-off for the the second slot.
Meanwhile, defending Top 14 champions Toulouse have
confirmed that international full-back Clement Poitrenaud
has become their latest player to sign a contract extension.
The
26-year-old, capped 34 times by France, is expected to put
pen to paper on a three-year deal on Tuesday.
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