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Toulon ready to cut their losses on All Black Milner-Skudder - reports


Nehe Milner-Skudder runs through exercises during an All Blacks gym session (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
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Reports in France on Wednesday suggest that 2015 World Cup winner Nehe Milner-Skudder might never arrive in Toulon to take up the three-year contract agreed on last December.

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French sports daily L’Equipe are reporting that the 28-year-old, who was ruled out of All Blacks selection for the 2019 World Cup after a shoulder injury prevented him playing any Super Rugby match for the Hurricanes, could now be surplus to requirement. 

It was December 13 last year when Toulon made a big show after securing the signatures of Eben Etzebeth and Milner-Skudder for the 2019/2020 season. 

Fresh from his World Cup-winning exploits with the Springboks, Etzebeth is due to arrive in Toulon before the end of the year and honour his three-year deal. 

However, the arrival of Milner-Skudder, who has not played any rugby since November 3 last year, is now in jeopardy due to shoulder complications. 

(Continue reading below…)

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It appears that the injured player’s contract has not yet been approved by the French League. Before this happens, he must have a medical examination and it appears this might not happen due to his shoulder problems. 

If the release of the contracted Milner-Skudder is confirmed, it will leave Toulon in a position to utilise the freed-up budget to chase down a replacement, namely Saracens and Wales’ Liam Williams. 

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He is expected to be a casualty of any shake-up at Saracens in the wake of their salary cap saga. However, L’Equipe added that Toulon won’t have it easy capturing Williams’ signature as the player has allegedly been courted by numerous other clubs in France. 

WATCH: Wales’ decision to play Jonathan Davies against the All Blacks is now under scrutiny

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Phantom 1 hour 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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