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Toulon president: Players like Etzebeth a 'clear handicap' for club

Eben Etzebeth

Toulon president Bernard Lemaître has suggested that high profile players like Eben Etzebeth are a ‘handicap’ for the club, owing to how much they cost and the fact that they are often taken away for international duty.

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Etzebeth is currently taking a medical break from rugby – in line with League Nationale de Rugby (LNR) protocols – after suffering a third concussion within a year, playing against England in the Autumn Nations Series.

The giant Springbok is yet to play for Toulon this season and could be unavailable for selection for the Top 14 side until February as a result.

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      As one of the club’s most expensive players, it represents a major blow for their 2021/22 ambitions, but it’s not what irks Lamitre.

      The 83-year-old told Var Martin in France that international sides should be forced compensate private clubs for the use of their players during international windows and players like Etzebeth and Los Pumas’ Facundo Isa can be problems for club like his.

      “There is a double problem in recruiting: the Salary Cap and the JIFFs. You can’t do just anything, so I pay special attention to the situation of internationals because they can be an opportunity or a handicap. In this case, players like Eben Etzebeth and Facundo Isa are a clear handicap for the club.

      “The policy of the XV of France is very clear and we know that some players like Gros or Villière will be called up regularly. While for foreigners it is different. I spoke with Bernard Laporte who agrees with me: the League should work with World Rugby to prevent foreign countries from coming to the Top 14 supermarket to take the players they need for their selection.

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      “Or, if they do, there should be some compensation. These players get paid, cost the club full, and are used by someone else. This, even at the level of labor law, does not exist. There is a problem to be resolved.”

      In England the RFU currently compensate Gallagher Premiership clubs as part of a wide ranging, multi-year agreement with Gallagher Premiership clubs. However in France, players from overseas are entitled to play for their national side should they be called up – with no compensation.

      Some Top 14 clubs come to behind closed door arrangements with players, a phenomenon which goes against World Rugby’s stance on player availability.

      In early 2021, the LNR rowed in behind a World Rugby decision to back maintaining twin international windows in July and November. “World Rugby today communicated on the principles guiding further work on the evolution of international competition formats from 2024. This communication indicates that the changes likely to be made will be part of the framework of the current calendar structure which foresees two “international windows” in July and November.

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      “The National Rugby League welcomes this announcement, and wishes to get involved fully and collaborate constructively in the pursuit of this work, with the shared objective of strengthening the promotion of international competitions while respecting a balance with club competitions.”

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      Comments

      1 Comment
      J
      JD Kiwi 1249 days ago

      This guy's a joke. If he isn't factoring in possible international call ups when negotiating wages he's failing as an executive. Maybe he should concentrate more on his academy.


      Also, other countries and unions spend millions on players, only for Toulon and other parasites to take them away. He should be compensating them!

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      T
      TokoRFC 1 hour ago
      Super Rugby Pacific's greatest season stained by one playoff game

      Mate, what TK and Ben Smith are forgetting is that a comp needs more games that matter, and its a balancing act getting that right.

      They haven’t understood that having so many teams fighting over the 6th spot is what fueled the back end of the regular season. Not to mention the games to decide the top end of the finals seeding. It would have been a bit flat if the 4 bottom teams were out of the running with a few rounds still to go.


      The current finals format is a bit funny to get used to, I agree. But if they sort out the scheduling guff where the BRU vs HUR match could have been a non knockout game, as well as giving more punishment for the lucky looser (dropping them to 4th seed in the semis). The current format creates more meaningful matches than the alternatives.


      Some examples of finals formats:


      Top 6 14 matches that matter

      With the improvements above, the current system creates 6 competitive finals, plus say 8 matches in the regular season that are effectively knockout games. 14 games that definitely matter. Plus some games to decide the finals seeding in there too.


      Top 4 10 matches that matter

      3 finals matches and say 6 games to fight over the top 4. At a best case you may get 12 crucial games


      If offered the choice, the sponsors, the broadcasters, the fans, the players and the all blacks selectors would all take more meaningful games over any alternative format.

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