Former All Blacks international scrum half Bryon Kelleher joins Stade Francais – Rugby news
French Top 14 outfit, Stade Francais, has confirmed the signing of former All Blacks international hooker, Byron Kelleher. The announcement was made by the Stade Francais president Max Guazzini and the newly appointed club administrator,
Bernard Laporte, in a press conference on Tuesday June 7, at the club’s headquarter.
Earlier in the week, Kelleher’s former club, Bayonne, confirmed the release of the international scrum half in a statement posted on their website. The statement read, “Byron Kelleher is free from today to sign for another club.”
The veteran rugby player is expected to bring both quality and experience to the Stade Francais who are trying to rebuild their side after two relatively poor domestic and European seasons.
The 34-year-old Kelleher started and played most of his rugby in New Zealand before joining the French Top 14 side Toulouse at the end of the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He was among the key All Blacks’ player who left New Zealand
to start their career in the Northern Hemisphere.
Kelleher is Otago Boys High School product and started playing rugby for the amateur club called Kaikorai Football Rugby Club. Dunedin born Kelleher made his professional senior rugby club debut for the provincial side Otago
during the 1997 season. The following year, he made his Super Rugby debut for the Highlanders.
Kelleher joined the provincial side Waikato and Super Rugby side Chiefs at the start of the 2004 season. He remained with them before joining the French Top 14 side Toulouse in 2007.
Kelleher’s inclusions will definitely strengthen the backs of the Stade Francais and his experience will improve the club’s performance in the scrums and lineouts. His international career extends up to eight years in which
he has played 57 matches and scored 40 points.
During his stay at Toulouse, Kelleher has helped the club to French Top 14 and Heineken Cup titles.
Laporte has also announced the signing of 12 other players as part of his plan to re-structure the club’s senior team. The new signings include players in the forwards and backs pack.
Besides Kelleher, other renowned players includes French international prop Olivier Milloud, USA Eagles lock Scott LaValla, Pumas fly half Felipe Contepomi, Wallabies centers’ Morgan Turinui and Paul Warwick, and England Elites’ winger Paul Sackey.
Commenting on the new signings Laporte said, “We want players of character. We need to find the will to do things together. I got the feeling the players want to control things. I can assure you, that is finished.”
Laporte also confirmed the stay of the controversial centre Mathieu Bastareaud which comes as major blow for the big money spending French club Toulon.
Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal has reacted strongly to the news and termed Bastareaud as a player suffering from depression. He said, “I think that psychologically, Mathieu Bastareaud is no longer able to play for Stade
Francais. He is a young player who now suffers from depression.”
Stade Francais will be looking forward to improve their performance after all the recent on field and off field controversies.
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