Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Toulon plan to upgrade disgraced Melvyn Jaminet with rival's superstar

Toulon's French full-back Melvyn Jaminet (C) reacts to their defeat after the European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 3 rugby union match between Northampton Saints and Toulon at Franklin's Gardens in Northampton, Central England on December 15, 2023. Northampton won the game 22-16. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP) (Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)

Toulon have set their sights on Italy fullback Ange Capuozzo as a potential replacement for Melvyn Jaminet, who was recently suspended following a racist post on social media.

ADVERTISEMENT

The fullback was suspended by the French Rugby Federation the day after France’s 28-13 first Test victory over Argentina for a now-deleted video posted on social media.

In the video, Jaminet can be heard saying: “I swear, the first Arab I see on the street… I will headbutt him… I will headbutt him… I say: I will headbutt him… Headbutt, I will…”

Video Spacer

Head coach Andy Farrell on Ireland’s famous win over Springboks

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      Head coach Andy Farrell on Ireland’s famous win over Springboks

      The FFR swiftly released a statement saying: “The French Rugby Federation (FFR) strongly condemns the comments made by Melvyn Jaminet in a recent video posted on social media. Such comments are totally unacceptable and contrary to the fundamental values of our sport.”

      The 25-year-old is set to find out if he still has a future on the Cote d’Azur later this week, according to L‘Equipe

      Fixture
      Internationals
      Argentina
      33 - 25
      Full-time
      France
      All Stats and Data

      The three-time European champions have already started to prepare for life without the Frenchman though, and have lined up Toulouse and Italy fullback Ange Capuozzo, according to another French outlet, Actu rugby.

      The report says that Toulon are hoping to lure the Italian away from the reigning Top 14 and Investec Champions Cup winners a year before his contract is set to expire in 2025.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      The move would see Capuozzo potentially make the same move Jaminet did in November 2023. Like Jaminet, Capuozzo has also struggled to break into the Toulouse back three, with fierce competition from the likes of Blair Kinghorn, Thomas Ramos and Matthis Lebel.

      For now, Jaminet remains suspended, a decision that was supported by the National Rugby League in France, who said: “The National Rugby League firmly condemns the unacceptable comments made by Melvyn Jaminet. Rugby is a sport of togetherness that embodies values of respect, team spirit, altruism, and diversity.

      “The LNR relies on every professional rugby player to be an ambassador of this togetherness. The LNR awaits the result of the internal investigation conducted by the Federation and welcomes the decision of the FFR to immediately exclude him from the French team’s tour.”

      Related

      ADVERTISEMENT

      Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

      Argentina v France | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Men's Match Highlights

      New Zealand v Australia | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Women's Match Highlights

      Tokyo Sungoliath vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

      Reds vs Force | Super Rugby W 2025 | Full Match Replay

      The Rise of Kenya | The Report

      New Zealand in Hong Kong | Brady Rush | Sevens Wonders | Episode 4

      The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      1 Comment
      J
      Jon 262 days ago

      Come play in Super Rugby Capuozzo, you could have your pick of any team I’m sure. Brilliant player.

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Features

      Comments on RugbyPass

      N
      NB 8 minutes ago
      Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

      https://www.london.edu/think/how-claudio-ranieri-transformed-leicester-city


      He jts knew how to use that deep well of knowledge accumulate over many years of management. A true Moneyball story!

      165 Go to comments
      f
      fl 15 minutes ago
      Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

      “Two comparable achievements 15 years apart (at different clubs in different leagues) represent failure and not continued success for an elite level coach/manager? Not even a hint of consistency? Just gradual, inevitable decline? And all because he is in his sixth decade?”

      Why don’t you try reading what I wrote before you start inventing a load of other random things that I didn’t say. I said “Pep hasn’t gotten better with age”. He hasn’t. I don’t think he’s got much worse, and yeah, he’s been fairly consistent over his career and has had more success than almost any other coach. But he hasn’t gotten better.


      “You’ve missed that Mourinho’s early start in football was as a translator for Bobby Robson (ironically a much older manager at the time!).”

      I was actually aware of that. I didn’t mention it because it wasn’t relevant to the fact that Mourinho - aged 52 - had more experience than Arteta does at 43. It also isn’t ironic that Bobby Robson was a much older manager at the time - it actually confirms by point that a lot of the top football managers used to be older than they are today.


      “You suggested that Les Kiss would not be suited to an international coaching role because of his age profile…that seemed to relate to rugby”

      That did relate to rugby. Let me walk you through the thread…


      NB suggested that Les Kiss should become Australia head coach in 2027.

      I said: “Given the drop off so many top coaches seem to experience as they get older (e.g. Jones, Gatland) Kiss could be a riskier appointment than you’d think!”

      NB said: “Drawing a parallel with the NFL and NBA, plenty of coaches stay well into their 70’s”

      I said: “Not all sports are going the same way though” then gave the example of football.


      The example of football was introduced in order to make the point that the age profile of managers is not the same in every sport. If you had read the thread you were replying to you would know this!

      165 Go to comments
      TRENDING
      TRENDING Blues lose All Black for season ahead of Hurricanes derby Blues lose All Black for season ahead of Canes
      Search