Top 14 - Chabal leaves Racing

Fri, 03 Feb 14:07:00 2012

Former France international Sebastien Chabal has left Metro Racing over a disagreement on a contract extension, the Top 14 club said.

Sebastien CHABAL - 23.12.2011 - Racing Metro - 0

Chabal, who was overlooked for the 2011 World Cup, has left "by mutual agreement" after failing to reach an agreement with president Jacky Lorenzetti on a contract extension.

"I am sad and disappointed," the 34-year-old Chabal told a press conference.

"It is the end of an adventure and of a long ordeal because at the end, I was not happy (...) because I was at odds with manager Pierre Berbizier.

"After lengthy negotiations, we had agreed (on a contract extension) financially. They wanted to wait a bit more. I told them what I thought about the management, about rugby."

Chabal, who can play at lock or number eight, won 62 caps for France and had joined Metro Racing, in the outskirts of Paris, from English club Sale in 2009.

He has not played for France since Les Bleus' 22-21 defeat at the hands of Italy in last year's Six Nations.

Chabal, who is not in this year's Six Nations squad, is now free to join any club.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 10 of 10

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  1. Ref my comment 7, today 37 out of the 40 pro Metro­ players have signed a letter to club owner Lorenzetti­ to request that Berbizier changes his management­ method...

    From Olivier, on Fri 10 Feb 7:04

  2. Best he joins a club that eats in good resteraunts he­ can relax in. His friends need to be able to chat with­ him.

    From Ian, on Sat 4 Feb 5:17

  3. Glad that the Chelsea/Man Cities of the rugby world are­ not succeeding in buying success. The Toulon and Racing­ experiments have come up short thankfully. I know the­ likes of Toulouse and Clermont have equally large­ budgets, but they bring through so many players of­ their own, that they very rarely need to spend on­ marquee players. And when they do, it's to add to a­ good team, to make it better. Not to create a team from­ scratch.
    I didnt work for the Ospreys, Stade Francais,­ the Rebels or Sale (well, the bubble burst quick enough­ anyway)

    From Sam, on Sat 4 Feb 1:36

  4. Watch for the exodus from Racing-Metro at the end of­ the season, all the key players are pixxed off with­ Berbizier...

    From Olivier, on Sat 4 Feb 1:17

  5. should bring him back to the premiership saints maybe ?

    From jc297, on Sat 4 Feb 1:02

  6. Chabal would have been at home in the amateur days,­ what with his tendency to only show up now and again­ for test matches. His performances against the All­ Blacks will ensure his place in rugby folklore, I mean­ he will always be the guy who broke Ali Williams'­ jaw and knocked out Chris Masoe (both legally I hasten­ to add)
    But a great rugby player? Not by a longshot.­ But sport needs characters like him to keep it­ interesting.
    And don't give Terry a second thought,­ he was probably chronically ma5terbating at the time,­ as is his wont, and didnt have time to put on the­ capslock and scream some nonsensical ramblings at­ us.
    Give it time though

    From Sam, on Fri 3 Feb 23:47

  7. Big Rich, Terry must be lurking around.

    From Pink Pig, on Fri 3 Feb 20:36

  8. it just goes to show how much you actually know about­ rugby!!!! b ugger all

    From stuffyou, on Fri 3 Feb 20:08

  9. Nine thumbs down and no comments. Have an opinion­ please, don't hit and run.

    From BigRich, on Fri 3 Feb 19:55
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Along with Sheridan, possibly the most overated player­ in the history of the game. Long hair, big beard and­ that's it !

    From BigRich, on Fri 3 Feb 18:31
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