James Haskell is currently locked in a bitter club-versus-country dispute which shows little sign of abating before the end of the weekend.
The 24-year-old flanker’s club, Stade Français, want him to be released for their crucial Top 14 match against Toulouse on Saturday at the Stade de France; but the Rugby Football Union are adamant that a clause exists in his contract stating that he will be available for international duty when needed.
England face Scotland on March 13th at Murrayfield in their fourth Six Nations match and, while they don’t play anyone this weekend, Haskell remains one of Martin Johnson’s key players. England simply aren’t willing to risk him coming back fatigued or injured.
The RFU also fear that if they give permission for Haskell to head back to France this weekend, then Toulon and Brive will soon come knocking for the services of their respective contracted players, Jonny Wilkinson and Riki Flutey.
However, if Stade Français are the group that pay the flanker’s wages, then shouldn’t he be obliged to play for them when England are not in action?
This is the conundrum which Haskell is currently faced with. Whatever his decision, he will be upsetting somebody. The 24-year-old could be forgiven for threatening to sit out of both matches until both parties end their petty squabble and come to an agreement.
Fortunately, only one party will be able to produce the information they claim they can, and so this issue will be resolved before Saturday.
Stade Français have already sold 75,000 tickets for this particular Top 14 match which is considered one of the biggest in the French top-flight calendar. Defeat for the club would significantly dent their hopes of finishing in a Heineken Cup spot as they currently lie seventh in the league; but with Haskell they are confident they stand a far better chance of victory.
It’s perfectly understandable that Stade are keen to bring the flanker in for this match, especially as there are no Six Nations fixtures. England have released some of the fringe players during this year’s championships, but Haskell, who scored two tries against Wales, is regarded as a far more indispensible asset.
The president of the Top 14 outfit, Max Guazzini, signed Haskell in January 2009 and must have been aware that such a situation might one day arise. The RFU even issued a warning that international release periods should be agreed prior to the signing of the contract to ensure that incidents like this one are avoided.
But this clearly hasn’t prevented this one from occurring.
"No agreement has ever been signed with the RFU, contrary to what they claim," the club said in a statement. "If it has, let the RFU produce it.
"The RFU must be confusing us with other French clubs like Toulon, who had to accept one for the current season in relation to Jonny Wilkinson.
"For all these reasons, we are ordering James Haskell, who has already missed two training sessions, to return most urgently."
Meanwhile, the RFU, who have a legally binding contract with Guinness Premiership clubs over player releases but are forced to individually negotiate with French sides, have responded in the bluntest possible fashion by stating: "We are aware of the request but he is not going back."
Regardless of the final outcome, this battle will certainly add some extra spice for the France v England clash on the final day of the 2010 Six Nations which is scheduled to be played at, where else, but the Stade de France.
Brace yourself for an even more tempestuous atmosphere than usual.
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