Northern Edition

Select Edition

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

Toulon president: Players like Etzebeth a 'clear handicap' for club

Eben Etzebeth

Toulon president Bernard Lemaître has suggested that high profile players like Eben Etzebeth are a ‘handicap’ for the club, owing to how much they cost and the fact that they are often taken away for international duty.

ADVERTISEMENT

Etzebeth is currently taking a medical break from rugby – in line with League Nationale de Rugby (LNR) protocols – after suffering a third concussion within a year, playing against England in the Autumn Nations Series.

The giant Springbok is yet to play for Toulon this season and could be unavailable for selection for the Top 14 side until February as a result.

Video Spacer

A Rugby Player’s Christmas and England’s Lewis Ludlam | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 15

Video Spacer

A Rugby Player’s Christmas and England’s Lewis Ludlam | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 15

As one of the club’s most expensive players, it represents a major blow for their 2021/22 ambitions, but it’s not what irks Lamitre.

The 83-year-old told Var Martin in France that international sides should be forced compensate private clubs for the use of their players during international windows and players like Etzebeth and Los Pumas’ Facundo Isa can be problems for club like his.

“There is a double problem in recruiting: the Salary Cap and the JIFFs. You can’t do just anything, so I pay special attention to the situation of internationals because they can be an opportunity or a handicap. In this case, players like Eben Etzebeth and Facundo Isa are a clear handicap for the club.

“The policy of the XV of France is very clear and we know that some players like Gros or Villière will be called up regularly. While for foreigners it is different. I spoke with Bernard Laporte who agrees with me: the League should work with World Rugby to prevent foreign countries from coming to the Top 14 supermarket to take the players they need for their selection.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Or, if they do, there should be some compensation. These players get paid, cost the club full, and are used by someone else. This, even at the level of labor law, does not exist. There is a problem to be resolved.”

In England the RFU currently compensate Gallagher Premiership clubs as part of a wide ranging, multi-year agreement with Gallagher Premiership clubs. However in France, players from overseas are entitled to play for their national side should they be called up – with no compensation.

Some Top 14 clubs come to behind closed door arrangements with players, a phenomenon which goes against World Rugby’s stance on player availability.

In early 2021, the LNR rowed in behind a World Rugby decision to back maintaining twin international windows in July and November. “World Rugby today communicated on the principles guiding further work on the evolution of international competition formats from 2024. This communication indicates that the changes likely to be made will be part of the framework of the current calendar structure which foresees two “international windows” in July and November.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The National Rugby League welcomes this announcement, and wishes to get involved fully and collaborate constructively in the pursuit of this work, with the shared objective of strengthening the promotion of international competitions while respecting a balance with club competitions.”

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

1 Comment
J
JD Kiwi 1230 days ago

This guy's a joke. If he isn't factoring in possible international call ups when negotiating wages he's failing as an executive. Maybe he should concentrate more on his academy.


Also, other countries and unions spend millions on players, only for Toulon and other parasites to take them away. He should be compensating them!

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

S
Solenn Bonnet 10 days ago
Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

WhatsApp.. +15617263697

website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

Telegram.. +15617263697

0 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Why Steve Diamond should be in the running for Premiership DoR of the year Why Steve Diamond should be in the running for Premiership DoR of the year
Search