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Julian Savea sensationally released by Toulon - reports

By Ian Cameron
Julian Savea. Photo / Getty Images

Julian Savea has been told he is ‘no longer welcome’ at Toulon according to shock reports emerging from France.

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Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal has said that the All Black is ‘not the player’ he signed after another poor outing for the Top 14 side.

Savea was easily out paced by Agen’s Benito Masilevu, who scored a crucial try in his side’s win over a Toulon team that have struggled in this season’s competition.

Boudjellal didn’t hold back, savaging the former All Black.

“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!” Boudjellal told RMC Sport.

Whether or not Boudjellal will follow through on his words is yet to be seen, but it could signal the end of a short lived time in Europe for the superstar winger.

The 28-year-old is in his first Top 14 season, shifting to Toulon after the Hurricanes’ 2018 Super Rugby campaign. He has largely been a flop since landing in France, and has played much of his rugby out of position at 12.

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Savea’s mid-season leave to attend his brother’s wedding in December caused backlash from Toulon fans, to which his wife responded.

“Let me set the record straight,” Fatima Savea – Julian’s wife – tweeted. “Before Julian signed his contract he asked for time off in December to attend his ONLY brother’s wedding. So this was agreed upon by both the club and Julian or else Julian would not have come to Toulon in September and instead in January.”

In November Savea was involved in car accident when he fell asleep behind the wheel.

He was capped by the All Blacks 54 times and scored 46 tries, giving him one of the best try scoring strike rates in international rugby history. However a loss of form saw him slip out of contention for the All Blacks and eventually at the Hurricanes, at which point to decided to make the switch to Europe.

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