No early release from Toulon: Gethin Jenkins
Wales prop Gethin Jenkins will not be given an early release to join the British and Irish Lions squad if Toulon make the Top 14 Final, according to the French club's head coach Bernard Laporte.
The Lions management are on a potential collision course with a number of French clubs over the availability of possible Lions players since the Top 14 Final falls on June 1, the same day as the Lions take on the Barbarians in Hong Kong.
Warren Gatland's team leaves for their tour of Australia on May 27 meaning that even players featuring in the Top 14 semi-finals - scheduled for 24-26 May - will struggle to make it on time.
Welsh stalwarts Mike Phillips (Bayonne), Luke Charteris, James Hook (both Perpignan) and Lee Byrne (Clermont) all ply their trade in France while the Armitage brothers, Simon Shaw, Andrew Sheridan and Jonny Wilkinson are at Toulon with Jenkins.
The Welsh prop is regarded as the leading candidate for the Lions Test loosehead berth but is likely to miss out on at least the start of the tour if Toulon repeat their appearance in this year's final, next June.
"The international window begins at the weekend of June 9. Everything that happens before that is outside of the window," Laporte told L'Equipe.
"As far as freeing up Gethin, in principle, it's a no.
"If he plays in the final, he will leave the day after, on Sunday June 2, but not before. We won't pay a player who has to go and play for the Lions at the most important time of our season.
"There is no specific clause in his contract about it."
Gatland is expected to hold talks with French clubs over the coming days but has not been done any favours by the congested calendar.
Comments
Bingin says...
It is not up to Toulon whether they release him or not.
Under Regulation 9, if the Lions request the FFR to release him, they HAVE to release him or he is banned from playing for the length of the tour up to a maximum of 9 weeks.
They have no choice, the Lions will request the FFR to ban him and they cannot let him play otherwise there is a massive fine.
Posted 01:54 15th September 2012
APV1 says...
Perhaps Toulon (et al) won't have the choice, after-all:
IRB regulation 9.6b reads: "The quadrennial British and Irish Lions Tour is a Designated Event and all Players selected to participate shall be released.
"The Release Period shall ordinarily commence on 1 June and ordinarily conclude on the 2nd weekend of July in the relevant year."
And rule 9.9 adds that players should be "available to train at least five clear days prior to the commencement of the international match, international tour or international tournament".
Posted 17:16 10th September 2012
makemehappy says...
Can't believe there are some idiots commenting on this thread not wanting the best possible scrummaging props to play the Aussies. Smash their awful front row and the rest will be easy.
Posted 19:56 08th September 2012
Stag says...
Lawnyd: the Twickenham debacle was an issue on the tight head not the loose head. If 'Corbs' or marler start at loose head the lions would be better off not touring
Posted 10:16 08th September 2012
APV1 says...
@ lawynd - Hear! Hear! If we can hold ou own against the Bok (and Sharks) FR, we can hold it against anyone.
We might not get the upper hand every time, but we certainly didn't disgrace ourselves.
Posted 14:30 07th September 2012
lawynd says...
@stag - I don't recall Corbisiero having played New Zealand yet, so that point is moot. He and Cole did however stuff Healy and co. last time they played each other. Healy's a fine player and is a certainty for the tour barring injury or a stunning loss of form, but Corbs and Marler will both have something to say about the team selection.
Posted 13:03 07th September 2012
KentBrockman says...
The Welsh boys must have known that this would be a possibility when they up'd sticks and went to France. If its not in their contracts to be released then tough poo poo for them. As an aside it would probably be pretty crappy to bail on your club just before a league final, especially considering how seriuosly the French take the Bouclier de Brennus.
Posted 10:45 07th September 2012
APV1 says...
Those of us lucky enough to see Rugby Club last night (you've gotta love Barnes, haven't you?!), would have seen the interview with the Lions' manager. He basically said that anyone who moves overseas and didn't get a release clause in their contract knew the risks.
Personally I hope that if they're not on the plane to HK, they don't go. One of the keys to Lions' past successes (on and off the field) is the comraderie. By parachuting players in later (other than for injury, which can't be helped or predicted), the squad dynamic changes, as does the pecking order. When they all travel out together, the players know who their internal competition is. But knowing that they're going to fly out a "star player" later must affect the dynamic and morale.
Posted 10:06 07th September 2012
stag says...
@melkdave: you rate corbisiero above cian healy? what planet do you live on? ludricrous assertion - ask the ABs & NZ media who they rate higher
Posted 09:22 07th September 2012
ABlack says...
Cool
Posted 09:14 07th September 2012
passtheball says...
Tonga'uiha - another of those difficult to prononce Welsh family names ?
Posted 08:57 07th September 2012
powerplay says...
...no release clause?
Posted 08:29 07th September 2012
Propmelsey says...
Great NEWS!! ... It gives Gatland time to sort out a strategy for the inclusion of Tonga'uiha in the squad ..... there MUST be a way mustn't there???? ... a loophole surely???? ...... afterall it's not about tradition is it .... not in this era of 'proffessionalism' .......... and if anyone deserves a lions cap ...... Tonga'uiha is the man!!!
Posted 08:17 07th September 2012
Dafydd29 says...
I have to assume Jenkins knew the Lions schedule when he signed so from that perspective (and no release clause), he has made his bed. As for Sheridan being preferred by Toulon that is only because he is a dirtier player than Jenkins. We can just hope that Toulon don't even make the Top 14 playoffs.
Posted 06:48 07th September 2012
Ramage says...
ah well seems they need SBW manager to negotiate their contracts or ask him to find away out. Just goes to show the problems players run into when they ply their trade elsewhere. Sellers Beware.
Posted 04:51 07th September 2012
5Lock4ward says...
This is the same as what Northampton did to Euan Murray last time around. On the other hand at least Andrew Sheridan knows where he stands w/ Toulon now.
Posted 00:43 07th September 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Just make sure Toulon don't make the finals.
Posted 21:41 06th September 2012
stumpy says...
Does anyone know about Huw Bennet? He plays in France, but I think he plays the league below the top 14. Would he be allowed?
Posted 20:09 06th September 2012
melkdave says...
As ive said elsewhere the only player in the T14 imo with even a shout at being a Lion,is S.Armitage,the best openside in europe last season,But he would still need to play as good this season to be worthy of selection.,shame he also plays for Toulon.and might miss out .Lets hope he has a clause ect in his contract.Even so its not as if we havent got good replacements for openside.S.Warburton,J.Tiparic,R.Rennie ect.I also have to disagree about C.Healy imo his selection is not a certain thing espically for a test start.Corbisiero and Mahlar i feel our the main contenders atm,with D.Cole and M.Ross at 3
Posted 19:03 06th September 2012
makemehappy says...
I'm surprised he didn't negotiate that as part of his contract. I think saying he doesn't care (as with TVaddict) is unlikely and certainly we would need to know a lot more before coming to that surprising conclusion. Jenkins seems like someone who loves playing rugby and doesn't avoid great games!
@ollieosprey - highly unlikely that he's behind Sheridan!! Any evidence of this as 99% of teams and coaches would put him ahead of Sheridan. Also Toulon's constant and over the top rotation policy makes the argument impossible to prove!
Posted 18:13 06th September 2012