Club V Country
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<p>Man this would suck if I was a Wales supporter</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/79802860/angry-toulon-owner-wont-pay-leigh-halfpenny-if-he-tours-new-zealand-with-wales'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/79802860/angry-toulon-owner-wont-pay-leigh-halfpenny-if-he-tours-new-zealand-with-wales</a></p>
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<p> </p>Angry Toulon owner won't pay Leigh Halfpenny if he tours New Zealand with Wales <div>
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<div><img src="http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/b/i/g/b/9/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1biga4.png/1462825821959.jpg" title="" alt="1462825821959.jpg"><div><span>Dan Mullan</span></div>
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<p>Leigh Halfpenny hasn't played for club or country since last September.</p>
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<p>Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal insists Leigh Halfpenny won't be paid by the club if he tours New Zealand with Wales in June.</p>
<p>The 27-year-old Welsh fullback missed last year's Rugby World Cup after suffering a serious knee injury in a match against Italy, just weeks before the tournament in England kicked off.</p>
<div><img src="http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/b/i/g/c/5/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1biga4.png/1462825821959.jpg" title="" alt="1462825821959.jpg"><div><span>Andrew Couldridge</span></div>
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<p>Halfpenny with the European Champions Cup after Toulon's victory at Twickenham in 2015.</p>
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<p>Halfpenny hasn't played for his French club at all this season but he's close to regaining his fitness.</p>
<p>Wales head coach Warren Gatland will name his touring squad on Tuesday.</p>
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<p>"I'm not paying anyone who's not here in June," Boudjellal told the <em>BBC</em>.</p>
<p>World Rugby's article nine states that clubs must release players for international matches, and therefore Toulon would be obliged to release Halfpenny if he's selected.</p>
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<p>The clash between club and country has emerged because France's Top 14 final is played on June 25 (NZT), with Toulon currently third on the ladder with three rounds to play.</p>
<p>Wales will face the All Blacks in three tests on June 11, June 18 and June 25 in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin respectively.</p>
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<p>"We'll go to all the tribunals in the world, but anyone who's not playing for us won't be paid by the club," Boudjellal added.</p>
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<p>"I'm not stopping anyone leaving because there is article nine – but anyone who leaves us before our final match won't be paid by the club."</p>
<p>France are expected to tour Argentina with a depleted squad with many of their likely to be involved in the French playoffs in June.</p>
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<p>Halfpenny was registered for Toulon's European Champions Cup but they were knocked out by Dan Carter's Racing 92 in the quarterfinals last month.</p>
<p>And a conflict of interests is causing tension between Toulon's owner and players, with Springbok international Juan Smith also in line to miss the conclusion of the French domestic season when Ireland tour South Africa in June.</p>
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<p>"After the episode of the World Cup and the episode of the injuries, the third episode that is about to happen is the calendar," added Boudjellal.</p>
<p>"We could find ourselves in June without three or four players at least because they are going to play friendly matches for their federations.</p>
<p>"I hope the federations have the intelligence to ... say to themselves that the Top 14 is a real competition and you have to respect the clubs who look after the players all year."</p>
<p><strong> - Stuff</strong></p>
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<p>"We could find ourselves in June without three or four players at least because they are going to play friendly matches for their federations.</p>
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<p>Is this the beginning?</p>
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<p>So does he pay them on a match by match basis? Surely when they sign he is aware of the fact they are good enough to play international footy and as such unavailable for periods, surely he should take this into account when offering them contracts, rather than 'docking' pay when they do go on International duty?</p> -
<p>What Toulon have in their contracts is between them and their players. I can totally see why they wouldn't want to pay them if they go and play tests.</p>
<p>The calendar is the problem and FFR know full well that the T14 overlaps the internationals.</p>
<p>Toulon hire international players to be a strong team then complain if they have to release them for internationals. Can't have it both ways sorry.</p>
<p>This will be why England won't pick players that are in this situation. They would feel obliged to compensate them for earnings lost when on international duty.</p>
<p>I'm just glad we stick with the central contracting system and not looking at overseas players.</p> -
<p><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:12px;background-color:rgb(247,247,247);">Boudjella talks the talk and he talks it a lot. He's always coming out with inflammatory stuff and then changes his tune. I'm not sure whether he is just all wind and piss or if he's playing a long game.</span></p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="578433" data-time="1462829497">
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<p><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Boudjella talks the talk and he talks it a lot. He's always coming out with inflammatory stuff and then changes his tune. I'm not sure whether he is just all wind and piss or if he's playing a long game.</span></p>
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<p>He's a blowhard comic book salesman and can go fuck himself. Lots of people should write to him and tell him to pull his head in or fuck off and buy a soccer club.</p> -
<p>ha ha go Chris B!! </p>
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Why don't the T14 just schedule 3 of their rounds to be midweekers - at some stage over the 6 month domestic window?<br><br>
NPC shows that players can handle it. <br><br>
I'm talking 3 weeks out of 24 having a midweek round. That ain't hard, their squads are enormous. Plus, their props and midfielders might lose some weight. -
And thank you NZ rugby for keeping control of contracts and only selecting local players.<br><br>
I think he is playing a game - the key word there is 'friendly'. Get that word being used more often and there goes the international calendar bar 6 nations, rugby championship, and World Cup. Already happens to players from the other second tier nations (fishing).<br><br>
Anyway, I couldn't agree more with Chris more. Too fucking bad, go buy a soccer club you muppet. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="578425" data-time="1462826970">
<div>And a conflict of interests is causing tension between Toulon's owner and players, with Springbok international Juan Smith also in line to miss the conclusion of the French domestic season when Ireland tour South Africa in June.</div>
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<p>Wait, what? Piss poor journalism</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rustycruiser" data-cid="578480" data-time="1462841208"><p>Wait, what? Piss poor journalism</p></blockquote>
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I didn't think Juan was still in contention for test selection? -
<p>maybe Juan said he was to keep his value high?</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Immenso Rapido" data-cid="578464" data-time="1462836691">
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<p>Why don't the T14 just schedule 3 of their rounds to be midweekers - at some stage over the 6 month domestic window?<br><br>
NPC shows that players can handle it.<br><br>
I'm talking 3 weeks out of 24 having a midweek round. That ain't hard, their squads are enormous. Plus, their <strong>props and midfielders might lose some weight.</strong></p>
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<p>Red Beard told me over a beer that one ex AB developed ( or enhanced ) a drinking problem during the massive breaks between games during the season. So much so that said unnamed AB was known to buy bottles of spirits and have them put at friends houses around town to keep going after being kicked out of various bars around town.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Immenso Rapido" data-cid="578464" data-time="1462836691">
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<p>Why don't the T14 just schedule 3 of their rounds to be midweekers - at some stage over the 6 month domestic window?<br><br>
NPC shows that players can handle it.<br><br>
I'm talking 3 weeks out of 24 having a midweek round. That ain't hard, their squads are enormous. Plus, their props and midfielders might lose some weight.</p>
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<p>They really just need to drop two teams. It wouldn't happen because it would lead to less revenue but 26 games plus European rugby plus internationals is just crazy.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="578598" data-time="1462867346"><p>
They really just need to drop two teams. It wouldn't happen because it would lead to less revenue but 26 games plus European rugby plus internationals is just crazy.</p></blockquote>
That's never going to happen, though, as it would cause an enormous internal shit fight. Vested interests would prevent it.<br><br>
Personally, if they have 14 clubs and cities (plus probably another half dozen in the top half of their second division) capable of supporting pro rugby, then that is great. I dont want them to fuck with that, or to reduce their revenue by 4 rounds per season.<br><br>
Just schedule 4 midweek rounds. Job done. Midweek games aren't the big scary bogeyman that rugby coaches think it is- and have been scared of ever since it went it pro. I'm talking 4 mid weeks. Not 8 months of bi-weekly games like euro soccer leagues. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Immenso Rapido" data-cid="578607" data-time="1462869933">
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<p>That's never going to happen, though, as it would cause an enormous internal shit fight. Vested interests would prevent it.<br><br>
Personally, if they have 14 clubs and cities (plus probably another half dozen in the top half of their second division) capable of supporting pro rugby, then that is great. I dont want them to fuck with that, or to reduce their revenue by 4 rounds per season.<br><br>
Just schedule 4 midweek rounds. Job done. Midweek games aren't the big scary bogeyman that rugby coaches think it is- and have been scared of ever since it went it pro. I'm talking 4 mid weeks. Not 8 months of bi-weekly games like euro soccer leagues</p>
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<p>Players can't play that much rugby and perform at the peak for international rugby. 4 midweek rounds make a huge difference.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="578624" data-time="1462875308"><p>
Players can't play that much rugby and perform at the peak for international rugby. 4 midweek rounds make a huge difference.</p></blockquote>
It's the same amount. But otherwise yes I agree, the rugby out of France is atrocious. That Comp produces fairly dire test rugby players.
