Lorenzetti hits back at Boudjellal

Editor

Racing president Jacky Lorenzetti has hit back at Mourad Boudjellal accusing him of breaking the salary cap rules in the Top 14.

Racing president Jacky Lorenzetti has hit back at Mourad Boudjellal accusing him of breaking the salary cap rules in the Top 14.

The Toulon boss opened hostilities in the build-up to Saturday's match at Colombes, which Racing won 17-10, by likening Lorenzetti to cyclist Raymond Poulidor.

Poulidor, a national hero in France, is most famous for never having won the Tour de France and is nicknamed the 'Eternal Second' after finishing on the podium of the Tour eight times.

Lorenzetti did not appreciate the cycling reference, and after his side had won the game, he questioned Boudjellal and the make-up of his squad, expressing his doubts over whether Toulon are sticking to the €10M salary cap.

“Before the game between our two teams, the president of Toulon made some provocative statements as is he is inclined to do,” Lorenzetti said in a statement.

“By using a cycling metaphor, Mourad Boudjellal has gone off track again. On the pitch Racing responded to these flights of fancy in the best possible way by beating Toulon 17-10.

“It's just a stage and the race for titles is of course a long one, so there is no point going overboard.

“For the rest of the competition there is one question that needs to be asked to the president of Toulon. The Top 14 cannot be a competition where 13 teams play by the rules of the salary cap, and where Toulon play by their own rules.

“Clear answers – clear like the water in the bottles of virtuous cyclists – need to be provided by Toulon and their president. It's about sporting equity and the future of our sport.

“While I wait for some clear answers which should be brought to the LNR, I want to pay tribute to Raymond Poulidor, a national hero who had a magnificent 17-year career and was never suspected of doping.

“No club, not even the champions should play with a doped wage budget which would distort the competition.”