Toulouse will not pay 60,000 NZDs to New Zealand Rugby Union for Luke McAlister’s release
Toulouse based French professional rugby union club, Stade Toulousain, has announced that they will not pay the release fee as demanded by the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) to acquire the services of the former All Blacks and Blues utility back, Luke McAlister.
Toulouse General Manager, Guy Noves, announced their decision in a reply to the demand made by the NZRU while talking to the reporters on Friday, July 15. He said, “We will not spend another centime, Toulouse is not a cow to be milked.”
Earlier, the Blues star utility back, Luke McAlister, agreed to join the French Top 14 side Toulouse after he was dropped from the All Blacks 2011 Tri Nations squad.
Luke McAlister was one of the exceptional players of the 2011 Super Rugby championship and he was the Blues highest point scorer in the tournament. The player thought he would be playing in the upcoming 2011 Tri Nations tournament and was also a contestant
for a place in the All Blacks squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC).
McAlister is currently in a three-year contract, which he signed with NZRU after their 2007 RWC campaign. NZRU acquired the services of the McAlister from the Premiership side, Sale Sharks. He asked the NZRU to release him from his current contract so that
he could join Toulouse to join the team for their pre-season preparations.
NZRU demanded a compensation of 60,000 NZD from Toulouse for the early release of McAlister from his contract. NZRU were of opinion that, his current contract bound McAlister with the NZRU until the end of the 2011 RWC.
Noves added that his club is not in rush to acquire the services of McAlister. He added, “If he cannot come until the end of August then we will wait.” Additionally, McAlister has also been dropped from his provincial side North Harbour’s squad for their
ITM Cup campaign.
NZRU General Manager of Professional Rugby, Neil Sorensen, has expressed his disappointment at McAlister’s decision to leave New Zealand Rugby.
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