Staying put: Ross Skeate © RossSkeate.com 2008

Toulon have confirmed that rugby league convert Sonny Bill Williams has signed a contract extension at the club, although only for one year.

Club president Mourad Boudjellal had wanted Williams to sign on for another three years, but it seems Williams may be leaving open the option of returning home to New Zealand in time to try and secure himself an All Blacks berth for the 2011 World Cup.

Williams' contract extension comes in the same week that Sale captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe confirmed he was leaving the Manchester club - with Toulon his expected destination.

The news was not so good, however, concerning Ross Skeate, the club’s South African second row. The imposing lock – who has formed a promising partnership with club captain Joe van Niekerk – will be out for a month after fracturing his left  eye socket against Perpignan last weekend.

Skeate also denied that he was set to return to South African franchise the Stormers – who this week re-signed Toulon hooker Tiaan Liebenberg.

Writing on RossSkeate.com he said: “The facts of the matter are that I received an enquiry from the Stormers squad to see if I would return home with immediate effect in light of the injury sustained by their lock Andries Bekker. My emphatic response to that request, regardless of my injury, was a resounding ‘no’.

“I have given my word and made a commitment here in Toulon, a time that I intend to see through until completion. At this point I am fully focused of recovering from injury as quickly as possible.”

However, he did admit the idea of returning to South Africa was “somewhat appealing”, and added that the Stormers were “a team very close to my heart”.

             

Not exactly slamming the door shut then on a possible future deal, as confirmed by his sign-off statement. “I’m not going anywhere for now,” he said.

Skeate’s injury, meanwhile, has ruled him out of Sunday’s President’s XV versus the French Barbarians match in Toulouse. He is now targeting the club’s home match – being played at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome - against Stade Toulousain on April 18^th for his comeback.

Castres were also counting the cost of what could be a crucial injury this week, with confirmation that scrum-half Sebastien Tillous-Borde will be out for two to three weeks.

The French international suffered a “slight tear” of his left biceps while playing against England.

Thierry Peréz will continue as Montpellier’s president following a general board meeting this week.

Peréz was appointed interim president when Philippe Deffins resigned in January, after less than a month in the post. Deffins claimed he had been kept in the dark over the club’s parlous finances.

Peréz had previously stood down as president on November 4 - prior to Deffins’ appointment - to take up the position of vice-president of the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR).

But he returned to the club amidst the fallout following Deffins’ resignation, and is now set to continue in that role.

Following his official re-appointment Peréz was also bullish about the state of the club’s finances. “I am pleased to announce that there are no more financial problems at the club, if there had been,” he said.

The president confirmed that two new shareholders had come on board, with Socratic – which owns the Polygone shopping centre – and Mediterranean Nettoiement – chaired by Louis Nicollin – committing to the club. It is understood the two new investors have secured between 5-10% interest.

The result is an increased club budget for this season – rising from €12.2m to €12.9m – but a possible dual presidency with Nicollin was ruled out despite Peréz favouring the move. Nicollin said he preferred to concentrate his energies on helping the city’s football team Montpellier Hérault Sport Club – of which he is chairman – secure promotion to Ligue 1.

Peréz also said he hoped the club’s renewed financial security would enable it to tie-up international flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo on a new long-term contract.

Meanwhile, on the pitch, Montpellier’s Johan Wasserman has been cited following last weekend’s home win against Biarritz, and is now due to appear before the LNR’s disciplinary committee on March 25.

It was Wasserman’s tackle that left Biarritz player Dimitri Yachvili unconscious and requiring hospital treatment.

Relegation threatened Bourgoin were forced to issue a statement denying the imminent departure of coach Eric Catinot after press rumours linked him with Pro D2’s basement club Bourg-en-Bresse. Bourgoin insist Catinot will still be their coach next season, no matter what happens over the forthcoming weeks. They are currently 12^th in Top 14, just two points above the drop zone.

Pro D2 outfit FC Auch Gers, meanwhile, have hit further financial problems after the collapse of a potential rescue deal.

The Club had previously been threatened with bankruptcy late in 2008 before Texilot pledged to invest €450,000 - €150,000 this season and €200,000 next season.

But, according to La Dépêche du Midi, Texilot have now cancelled that investment due to a difference of opinions with Auch president Eric Beloussof.