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England - No French trip for Haskell
10:45, Mar 5 2010
England remain unmoved in their stance that James Haskell will not be returning to play for Stade Francais this weekend, despite strong threats being made by the Top 14 club.
The club-versus-country saga took a twist when it emerged that Haskell sat out training on Thursday after becoming the latest member of the England squad to be hit by a stomach bug, although manager Martin Johnson refuted suggestions of a conveniently-timed illness.
"I spoke to the doctor and he said they were symptoms that could not be faked," Johnson explained.
Whether Haskell is fit to play for Stade Francais against Toulouse this weekend or not, the row is developing into a point of principal for the club's owner Max Guazzini.
International Rugby Board regulations give clubs first call on players in a non-international week and there is nothing in Haskell's Stade contract to override that.
Guazzini is alert to the fact that the Rugby Football Union pay the Guinness Premiership clubs millions of pounds for additional access to their players - but the French clubs get nothing.
"In my view it is blackmail," Guazzini told BBC Sport. "I am very sorry it has come to this. The RFU is keeping him prisoner. Frankly, I find their attitude lacks respect.
"It is immoral. It is not my fault England lost to Ireland at Twickenham."
England's elite rugby director Rob Andrew refused to back down on Thursday but also sought to remove the RFU from the argument, shifting the spotlight directly onto Haskell. Andrew argued that England's decision was based on guarantees made by Haskell that he has a separate agreement in place with Stade Francais covering his release.
"We have been given assurances by James and his advisors that he has an agreement with Stade that he can fulfil the release periods for England training," he said. "The position is between the player and the club. There is no issue here between the RFU and Stade Francais."
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