Volley Moving To France

European Cup finalists London Wasps’ backrow
forward Paul Volley has signed a two year contract to play for Castres, according to the French club’s manager Christian Gajan.

But before he takes up his new position Volley has some
outstanding work to
do for his London side – namely helping the English champions beat
France’s
reigning European titleholders Toulouse in the May 23 final at
Twickenham.

“He’s a versatile player,” said Gajan, who made the
signing with a view to
strengthening his squad for next season’s European Cup.

Meanwhile, ailing two-time European champions
Leicester
Tigers look set to sign Wales highly-rated fly-half Stephen Jones
according to
sources from his Welsh side Llanelli Scarlets.

The 26-year-old’s contract comes to an end at the end of this
campaign and
he has been subject to bids from England and France but the Tigers
look to
have won the race after they sought a replacement for former
Springbok Jaco
Van der Westhuyzen who is on his way to Japanese side NEC .

Leicester met with the 40-times capped Jones last Wednesday to
discuss a
deal.
“The WRU and regions are doing their best to secure players
to make sure
they stay in Wales,” Jones told BBC Wales’ Scrum V programme.

“But if you look to English and French clubs they have huge
gates every
other week and you can understand why they are throwing a lot of
money around.”

Jones’s impressive showings in the World Cup and then the Six
Nations – in
which he finished top scorer with 55 points – made him one of the
most sought
after players and with the English and French clubs wielding more
financial
muscle it was always unlikely Llanelli could keep him.

The painful state of their finances and their inability to offer
attractive
packages to their players was put into perspective by Scarlets
director of
rugby Gareth Jenkins.
“There are players within my squad who have been offered huge
amounts of
money to play in England,” Jenkins said.

“That’s a big concern because we cannot match them. We do not
have the
money – it’s as simple as that.

“Stephen has got a decision to make that will affect the rest
of his life.
He knows what he’s got here. He understands what this club
has given him
and what it can offer him.”

It is a worrying time for Welsh rugby and its five fledgling
regional sides.
The English and French clubs look set to sign the best players in
a manner
not seen since rugby league scouts stripped the Valleys during the
amateur
days.

Wales record try-scorer Gareth Thomas is close to agreeing a
200,000 pounds
a season move to European champions Toulouse, although his present
side Celtic
Warriors will receive a transfer fee as he is still under contract.

However Welsh speedster Shane Williams has rejected overtures from
France
and decided to stay on for another three years with Neath-Swansea
Ospreys.

AFP – 2004.