French clubs set to break Carter record to bag Beauden Barrett - and other post-World Cup player rumours
Dan Carter was on a reported €1.4million a year during his two-and-a-half season stint with Racing 92 after the 2015 Rugby World Cup. If reports are accurate, French clubs are prepared to break that record – not to mention the bank – to woo his successor in the All Blacks 10 jersey, Beauden Barrett, to the Top 14 after Japan 2019.
Reports during last season’s mad signature-fest at Stade Francais’ suggested the club’s new billionaire owner, Hans-Peter Wild, was working up a post-Japan World Cup bid for Barrett; while Montpellier’s cash-splashing Mohed Altrad is almost automatically linked to every player on the market, regardless of whether the prospective move actually makes any kind of sense or not. Racing’s Jacky Lorenzetti, too, is even said to be more-than interested despite a surfeit of riches at halfback on his books.
Flying under the radar, however, are ambitious Lyon, who have popped up from apparently nowhere to table a €1.5million-a-season bid for Barrett’s signature, according to French sports newspaper L’Equipe. He had been ready to turn down the deal, but the size of the offer has prompted him to think again, the paper said.
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Regardless of whether he ends up at Lyon, there’s no denying that it is the kind of money that’s hard to sniff at and it has set a high reserve price in what could easily turn into a bidding war for Barrett among the mega-rich European clubs.
But L’Equipe doesn’t end there. It lists a number of other players – almost-but-not-quite-entirely from New Zealand to the surprise of nobody – who are already attracting the covetous gaze of monied clubs in France.
Eben Etzebeth
Let’s start with the one non-Kiwi player. Etzebeth is – according to L’Equipe – the big target for Toulon’s Mourad Boudjellal after the 2019 World Cup. Boudjellal has been in regular contact with the player’s representatives for some time, and word is the club is prepared to break the bank to the tune of more than €1million a year to bring him to the Mediterranean coast. There’s just one problem, apparently: Etzebeth has a future in Japan in his sights.
Sonny Bill Williams
Another player who could smash Dan Carter’s salary record, the paper believes, with Stade Francais said to be leading the race for the former Toulon player, though the sums bandied about – as much as €2million – seems excessive, especially given the money apparently on the table for Barrett. Though, it should be noted he has apparently already turned down a deal worth a reported €1.35million from English Premiership side Wasps. In a previous life, he was a cult hero at Toulon, so don’t expect Mourad to pass up the opportunity to at least try to get him back.
Ardie Savea
Pau are reckoned to be close to snatching Savea for an after-World Cup party in southwest France. President Bernard Pontneau has made little secret of his ambitions for the club and a relatively quiet time on the market ahead of this season hints that he may well be saving up for a player binge next season. He has already hinted that he is close to some big-name signings. And, given the New Zealand bias in the coaching staff, it’s no big surprise to see the club linked to another All Black or two.
Marika Koroibete
The rumour list started with a South African. It ends – just about – with Australia’s Fijian dual-code international Koroibete. For now. It seems Stade have the hots for the Rebels winger, who has just signed a contract extension with the Melbourne side through to the end of the 2019 Super Rugby season.
The rugby transfer market tends to go a little mad after a World Cup. In 2011, Bakkies Botha, Matt Giteau, Joe Rokocoko, Neemia Tialata and Sitiveni Sivivatu were among those who moved north to France. Four years later, Carter along with fellow World Cup heroes Conrad Smith, Colin Slade and Ma’a Nonu – not to mention Australians Adam Ashley-Cooper, Will Genia, and Sekope Kepu followed their lead.
As well as Barrett and the rest of those listed above, in 2019, out-of-contract Super Rugby stars include Israel Folau, David Pocock, and Nehe Milner-Skudder. Whether any or all do move north remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: every one of them is sure to attract the attentions of French clubs, as well as English Premiership sides on the lookout for new marquee players.
You don’t get more marquee than some of the names mentioned here.
Comments on RugbyPass
Irish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
4 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
4 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to comments