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French club interested in Olding - reports
By Alex Shaw
According to a report in Midi Olympique, Irish centre Stuart Olding could be on his way to recently relegated Brive.
The former Ulster man has been looking for a new club since the IRFU terminated his contract following the high-profile court case surrounding him and provincial and international teammate Paddy Jackson.
The pair had believed to have been close to signing with Sale Sharks in the Aviva Premiership, but there was a significant backlash from fans and sponsors alike and neither deal went ahead.
Midi Olympique have reported that Olding has visited the facilities at Brive and is on very good terms with incoming coach Jeremy Davidson.
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Davidson is a former Ulster second-row who has spent the last seven years in France and has impressed in coaching roles with both Aurillac and Bordeaux. It was announced earlier this month that Davidson would take charge at Brive for the 2018/19 season, signing a three-year contract with the now Pro D2 club.
Talks are not in the official or formal stages yet, per Midi, but with Davidson’s Belfast connection and at least one season to be spent down in the Pro D2 and away from the media spotlight, the move could appeal to Olding.
Interest has seemed to cool in both Olding and Jackson since the backlash to their proposed signing at Sale, potentially putting off several of the clubs that were rumoured to be interested in the pair last month.
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Has there ever been a Red and Black you don't rate GP over the years? However to be fair most of your favs have had the goods.
Go to commentsI'm not very hopeful of a better change to the sport. Putting an Aussie in charge after they failed for two decades is just disgusting. What else will be brought in to weaken the game? What new rule changes will be made? How will the game be grown?
Nothing of value in this letter. There is no definitive drive towards something better. Just more of the same as usual. The most successful WC team is getting snubbed again and again for WC's hosting rights. What will make other competitions any different?
My beloved rugby is already a global sport. Why is there no SH team chosen between the Boks, AB's, Wallabies and Fiji? Like a B&I Lions team to tour Europe and America? A team that could face not only countries but also the B&I Lions? Wouldn't that make for a great spectacle that will also bring lots of eyeballs to the sport?
Instead with an Aussie in charge, rugby will become more like rugby league. Rugby will most likely become less global if we look at what have become of rugby in Australia. He can't save rugby in Australia, how will he improve the global footprint of rugby world wide?
I hope to be proven wrong and that he will raise up the sport to new heights, but I am very much in doubt. It's like hiring a gardener to a CEO position in a global company expecting great results. It just won't happen. Call me negative or call me whatever you'd like, Robinson is the wrong man for the job.
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