Select Edition

Select Edition

Northern
Southern
Global
NZ
France

Melvyn Jaminet fighting for Toulon career amid protests outside club

By Neil Fissler
Toulon's French fly-half Melvyn Jaminet (C) fights for the ball with Oyonnax' French flanker Hugo Hermet (R) during the French Top 14 Rugby union match between Union Sportive Oyonnax Rugby (Oyonnax) and Racing Club Toulon (Toulon) at the Charles Mathon stadium in Oyonnax, central eastern France, on May 18, 2024. (Photo by ARNAUD FINISTRE / AFP) (Photo by ARNAUD FINISTRE/AFP via Getty Images)

Melvyn Jaminet will be fighting for his future with Toulon after being summoned to attend showdown talks with club bosses on Tuesday afternoon after being suspended for making racist remarks about Arabs.

Jaminet only signed for his hometown club last November after swearing an earlier release from his Toulouse contract in a now-deleted video posted on his official Instagram account after France’s win in Argentina two weeks ago.

In the video, Jaminet can be heard saying: “I swear, the first Arab I see on the street… I will headbutt him… I will headbutt him… I say: I will headbutt him… Headbutt, I will…”

Jaminet, who grew up near the Stade Felix Mayol, played for junior sides before moving to Perpignan Academy, helping them win the second division Pro D2 title in 2021.

He is due to be under contract at Toulon until 2028, but that could be ripped up after his meeting with Administrative and Legal Director Cedric Rouhaud and President Bernard Lemaitre at the clubs offices.

The meeting had been scheduled for last Friday but was postponed until tomorrow afternoon at 3.30 pm because, under French labour laws, he needed to be accompanied by a Union delegate.

Jaminet, 25, is under investigation by the French Public Prosecutor and has been the subject of protests outside the club’s training base. And will be accompanied by his lawyer, Carlo Alberto Brusa.

The Italian successfully defended former French football international Franck Ribery when he was charged with having sex with an underage prostitute and is the former lawyer of French stars Didier Deschamps and Zinedine Zidane.

The three-time European champions have already lined up a replacement for Jaminet. They want to sign Italy full-back Ange Capuozzo, who is under contract to Toulouse until the end of next season.