French Transfer Window Closes
Thursday night signified the closing of the extended transfer window granted to the newly promoted clubs in the top French rugby division, the Top 14. SU Agen, La Rochelle, and Carcassonne where given extra time to sign the remainder of their squads.
Even though all the clubs have been extremely busy trying to put their final pieces in place, there are still 46 players left without a team. There is slightly more time however, as recently demoted Montauban is expect to lose even more of their professionals with that window closing on August 5th. In addition, one cannot forget about the possibility of injury signings throughout the course of the year.
Transfers
This week saw the biggest exodus of players from Montauban. The former Top 14 side has now lost Alejandro Campos, Romain Sazy, Andrew Henderson, and Adrien Figueiredo. The loss of such important talent will make it very difficult for Montauban to climb out of the Federale 1 next season.
SU Agen put their finishing touches on their side this week. After trying to land prized Welsh international Andy Powell, only to loose him to the London Wasps, they went for the next best thing in former Toulon player and Welsh centre Jamie Robinson. Robinson left Toulon as he was not able to procure enough playing time with the big club. With the addition of Robinson and Campos from Montauban, Agen feel as though they are prepared to make a splash next season.
The Montauban fallout continued as La Rochelle signed lock Romain Sazy, who as a 24 year-old, was eager to remain in the Top 14 next season.
Carcassonne would not be outdone however, as they signed lock Cesar Damiani and Irishman Peter Bracken. Carcassonne also took the runoff from Montauban by nabbing Figueiredo, who will join the other five Montauban signings Cedric Rosalen, Laurent Deboulbes, Joel Koffi and Emmanuel Etien. The signings cement their roster for the upcoming campaign.
Provale
The French Union was happy about the transfer season this year. This week alone, 24 players have been signed, leaving only 46 without a place to play. However, at this time last year that number was 86. In addition, the number has been cut in half since the end of the original transfer deadline for non-promoted clubs.
The amount of signings demonstrates how competitive the French league has become. The French Union states that they believe it is due to the influx of quality, the players have become more “realistic” in their contract demands, and the battle for places has become the focal point of preseason rugby.
Newest Toulouse member Nicolas Vergallo, even with 14 international caps for Argentina, is going to have his hands full trying to make it as a full-time starter this season, going up against the likes of New Zealand international player Byron Kelleher, Frenchman Frederic Michalak, and promising youngster Nicolas Bezy.
Vergallo said of the difficult task: “It makes me want to work harder and make every effort possible to raise my level of play. It does not scare me, although I am well aware that it will be difficult for me to get the start…The goal is to grow and evolves in my rugby and there is no better club than Toulouse for that.”
Perhaps the biggest loss of this years transfer window was the departure of Mark Gasnier who chose to return to Australia after playing two years in the Top 14. Gasnier joined the St. George Dragons, actually scoring a try and helping one in his first game back in Australia’s National Rugby League.
The end of the transfer season marks the beginning of the preseason, the first game will take place on the 16th of July against Toulon and Aix-en-Provence, and after that it will not be long until the teams have their starters set and are ready to kick off the new campaign.
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