Top 14: The scramble for Chabal
25 November 2008
The rumours claiming Sebastien Chabal will
return to France next season appear to be gathering pace,
with differing stories in the country’s top sporting papers
this week.
Midi-Olympique, the specialist rugby paper,
claimed Chabal could be part of a package of players to join
Toulon following an alleged meeting between owner Mourad
Boudjellal and current Sale coach Philippe Saint-Andre.
The paper said the pair met in Paris on
November 16th, with Boudjellal trying to line up
Saint-Andre to become Toulon coach next season. It went on
to suggest that if Saint-Andre did come he could also bring
over English-based French players Sebastien Bruno, Lionel
Faure and Chabal – who plays at No 8 for Sale.
However, sports daily L’Equipe said Chabal,
who earned rave reviews for his performances in the November
internationals, was keener to ply his formidable trade in
Paris.
The 30-year-old has been
with Sale wince 2004 but although he signed a two-year
contract extension only last year it now appears that a
return to his homeland is a virtual certainty.
“I know in my heart that I want to return to
France and that I will return,” he told L’Equipe.
“That will mean one big salary less for my
club and I am just waiting for their agreement that I can
leave.”
When asked where he prefers to play he
replied: “On the whole, Paris is perhaps the best bet for
me.”
That could mean linking up with Australian
coach Ewen McKenzie at Stade Francais, or perhaps with ProD2
side Racing Metro ’92 if they secured promotion to Top 14.
Elsewhere, there are injury concerns for
Toulouse and Castres following the autumn
internationals.
Toulouse, who entertain second-placed Bayonne on Friday,
could be without Cedric Heymans and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde
following their exertions with the national team, while
Castres have lost French captain Lionel Nallet for three
weeks with a cracked intercostal cartilage.
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