TOP 14 GIANTS BURN CASH IN MEGA DAN BIGGAR FINE FOLLOWING SPRINGBOK’S DEAL
French giants Toulon have made the same costly error in signing Dan Biggar as they did with Springboks flyer Cheslin Kolbe.
On Tuesday, the National Rugby League (LNR) issued a €500,000 fine to the French club for a lack of transparency and cooperation during the 2022/23 season.
Toulon fined again after lack of transparency
Biggar joined Toulon in November 2022 after securing an early exit from his contract with Northampton Saints to head to the Top 14.
Following a probe launched by France’s salary cap commission, it was revealed that Northampton paid the Welshman up to £350,000 in severance compensation, but that was not declared in the official documents Toulon provided.
This is not the first time that Toulon has run into this kind of issue as they were fined €70,000 for ‘failure to comply with the general obligation of transparency and cooperation’ when signing Springbok back Kolbe from Toulouse in 2021.
The club were forced to pay the fine on that occasion despite denying accusations for lack of transparency and have now confirmed that they will appeal the LNR’s decision.
“Rugby Club Toulonnais has taken note of the decision of the Disciplinary Committee of the National Rugby League regarding the failure to comply with the general obligation of transparency and cooperation concerning the Salary Cap,” a club statement read.
“First of all, it should be noted that Rugby Club Toulonnais has not exceeded the Salary Cap ceiling, which is also recognised by the National Rugby League and its disciplinary committee.
“The first instance conviction to a fine of €500,000 is firmly contested by the club which, as it has the possibility, will appeal this decision in the next few days to the Appeals Committee of the French Rugby Federation.”
Premiership ins and outs: The complete list of the 2024/25 player transfers
Biggar’s replacement
Meanwhile, Biggar’s contract is set to expire at the end of the 2024/25 season and the club is already looking at potential replacements.
According to a report by respected French publication L’Equipe, they are one of the many suitors keen to snap up the services of Les Bleus playmaker Matthieu Jalibert.
The fly-half’s current contract with Bordeaux expires at the end of the upcoming season after he put negotiations on a new deal on hold to focus on the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign.
He would not come cheaply, however, as it is reported that Bordeaux’s last offer was around €800,000 a season.
Biggar will be joined by former Northampton clubmate Lewis Ludlam this season with England prop Kyle Sinckler also making the move.
Munster centre Antoine Frisch is also joining the Top 14 side along with Italian hooker Gianmarco Lucchessi and Stade Francis front-rower Mickael Ivaldi.
2024-07-03T11:08:47Z dg43tfdfdgfd