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Julian Savea has million euro plus Toulon salary slashed

It's not all about the money, a lesson for European-bound All Blacks. (Photos/Gettys Images)
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Former All Black winger Julian Savea has agreed a pay cut in order to remain at Toulon.

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According to reports in regional media outlet Varmartin, Savea has agreed to significantly lower his salary for the coming season.

If he proves himself, he should be offered a contract extension. Savea was paid over one million euro per season by the club, prior to the reported pay cut.

The player effectively confirmed the reports by Retweeting: “Looking forward to this season with @RCTofficiel. One more week of holiday break and then back into the grind.”

The pay cut comes after a season in which Savea came under fire by RCT owner Mourad Boudjellal, in which the controversial millionaire infamous said he wanted the hulking wing to undergo a DNA Test.

“I’m going to ask for a DNA test. It is not Savea that we recreated but ‘Savéapas’. They had to change it on the plane. If I were him, I would apologize and I would go home.

“When we reach this level of play, we must apologize and leave. I told him he was released and he was no longer welcome in Toulon!”

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Boudjellal then told newspaper Le Parisien that: “I find his (Julian Savea) behaviour unacceptable. I went through the quarter-finals of the 2015 France-New Zealand World Cup and I always wonder if it’s the same player, the same man,” Boudjellal said.

“What I do not admit is that we pay him dearly. The negotiations have been very difficult, he has been very demanding and since he has been here, he is no longer. I can not think it’s normal for a player paid more than 1 million euros per year to go on holiday to Fiji for a month in December…he just had to attend his brother’s wedding, not take long leave,” he added.

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Phantom 33 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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