French international Penaud admits to sanction last week by his Clermont boss
Damian Penaud has admitted to being punished by his Clermont coach, Franck Azema.
The France winger, who started three matches at the recent World Cup, was absent from his club’s teamsheet for last Sunday’s match versus Castres.
On Thursday, he candidly revealed at a media conference that his absence wasn’t due to an injury and was instead the result of a managerial sanction.
“It was not rest. I had a bad attitude against Toulon and I was punished. I take it and it was part of sport. Now, I don’t want to say more. It remains between Franck and me,” he said in a story reported by the media in France.
Clermont were thrashed 41-19 at Toulon and Azema was disappointed with the commitment of some players, including Penaud who played that evening in the midfield.
(Continue reading below…)
“It is important to be at 200 per cent,” he told his club’s website. “Even though he already has a lot of experience at a high level, Damian remains a young player. Throughout his career, he will learn. But the fact that he says it himself proves that he is a competitor.”
Clermont bounced back from the loss at Mayol to defeat Castres 39-22 and they now visit Racing on Saturday in a match between the fifth and seventh-placed sides who have the same amount of points – 30 – from their dozen matches so far this season.
WATCH: RugbyPass travelled to Brecon to see how life after rugby is treating Andy Powell
Comments
Join free and tell us what you really think!
Join Free
Latest Comments
I saw report on the package for a season membership next season including 10 home Premiership matches, which would seem to indicate a 20 match season which would mean 11 teams. I assumed next season would remain 11 and a bumper until the final format could come into play in 24-25. I guess this is why there hasn't been an announcement though. Forget 11, who knows if we'll even have 10?
Go to commentsIreland's 10 "foreign-born" players include Joey Carbery (Irish parent), Mack Hansen (Irish parent), Finlay Bealham (Irish grandparent), Ciaran Frawley (born in Sydney to Irish parents) so it's not quite as it seems. The standout foreigners are obviously Gibson-Park, Lowe and Aki, all of whom have no Irish connection.
Go to comments