News: Racing Metro '92 confirm Chabal interest; Montauban
ease financial worries
17 January 2009
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Chabal: Paris Bound?
Photo: Michael Paler |
Ambitious Paris club Racing Metro ’92 have emerged as
serious contenders to sign French international Sebastien
Chabal.
The Pro
D2 leaders are hoping to lure the Sale Sharks icon after his
rumoured move to Montpellier was put on hold due to the Top
14 club’s current financial crisis (see
report).
Chabal
has previously stated that he
could be tempted by a move to the
French capital when his contract expires at the
end of the season, and Racing would appear to fit the bill -
as long as they can secure promotion from Pro D2.
Pierre
Berbizier’s side are currently five points clear at the head
of Pro D2 as they seek automatic promotion having missed out
last season when they lost to Mont-de-Marsan in the
play-offs.
The
capture of ‘Seabass’ would be a major playing and commercial
coup for Racing, although Chabal, 31, is known to have
received several other contract options in France. The
international lock/number eight confirmed Toulon had made an
approach in December, when he also said that he would like
to continue working with current Sale boss Philippe
Saint-Andre – who is also departing at the end of the
season.
Thomas
Lombard, Racing’s media officer, admitted an approach had
been made to Chabal but stressed that nothing had yet been
confirmed.
“The
first contact was made back in December,” he told AFP.
“Racing Metro is no Paris Saint Germain. We’re not there to
influence the transfer market. If a player signs for Racing
it’s because he identifies with the club and our style of
play.”
Montpellier, meanwhile, have
confirmed that previous president Thierry Perez has stepped
into the void after Philippe Deffins vacated his post on
Tuesday.
Deffins
departed after reportedly discovering a €1.5m hole in the
club’s finances, with Perez returning to the club as an
interim president.
But Perez, who left in December to become
vice-president of the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), said
he “did not wish to extend this mandate more than
necessary”. It is understood he wants to continue his work
with the LNR and the steering committee of the FFR.
There
was better news, however, for another Top 14 club
experiencing financial problems with confirmation that
Montauban have secured the €1.2m requested by the DNACG,
the league’s financial watchdog.
Club
president Patrick Vianco told an extraordinary general
meeting on Friday that the €1.2m reserve fund had been
successfully secured. “I will be eternally grateful. You
just saved the MTG XV,” he said.
Vianco also said the club
planned to unveil its new coaching team for next season in
mid-February following the confirmed departures of Laurent
Labit and Laurent Travers, who will join Castres next
season. One name being tipped to become head coach is
Richard Hill, currently in charge of Guinness Premiership
side Bristol.
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