French violence chased Matfield home
Thu, 01 May 2008 17:33
Pondering the future: Bok lock Victor Matfield
World Cup-winning Springbok lock Victor Matfield has decided to quit French rugby and return to Pretoria, because of the level of violence in the club scene in France - both in the First Division (Top 14) and the Second Division (Pro D2).
The Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd (BBC) confirmed on Thursday that Matfield has signed a contract to return 'home' and end his career after this tenure in Pretoria.
He signed a three-year contract with the Bulls - starting 1 July 2008 and ending 31 October 2011.
His decision to rejoin the Bulls come at a time when the Pretoria-based franchised is involved in a court battle to retain the services of Matfield's long-time second row Bulls and Bok partner Bakkies Botha - who has indicated he would like to take up the spot vacated by Matfield at Toulon.
While Matfield said he always wanted to return to South Africa and the Bulls, the French media claimed the level of on-field violence he
experienced in his short stint at Toulon - he joined them in January - is why he quit the French scene.
Although the Bulls did not reveal how much they will be paying Matfield, numerous reports in the media claimed he turned his back on a lucrative £325,000 (US$640,000) a year offer from newly promoted Guinness Premiership club Northampton Saints.
The Bulls offer is said to be about half of that put on the table by Saints, a meager ZAR3m (US$395,000) a year.
Matfield said he was "ecstatic" about his impending return.
"I am really looking forward to seeing my friends again at the Bulls," he said in a statement.
"I really missed the rugby in South Africa a lot and to be able to join a team like the Bulls is an absolute honour.
"I know that I need to be in a structure like the Bulls to play myself back into contention for national [Springbok] honours and that make the challenge even greater."
Matfield also said he hopes to help the Bulls, who failed to reproduce the form that saw them win the Super 14 under his captaincy last year, bounce back from this year's disastrous campaign - which include just three win in 10 starts.
"I know the Bulls don't have their best season, but I have no doubt that they will be a force again soon," Matfield added.
Matfield said he was looking forward to the challenge of playing for a place in the highly competitive Springbok squad and hopefully he will be able to impress the Springbok coach and national selectors enough to make his way back into the Springbok squad.
Bulls coach Ludeke was also pleased with Matfield's arrival.
"Victor has played most of his rugby here [in Pretoria] prior to his move to Toulon and he is rightfully returning home," Ludeke said.
"We are indeed lucky to be able to secure a player of his quality as he adds a lot of leadership and experience to our team. I only worked with him
for the short period at the pre-season camp in George and was very impressed with his knowledge, work ethic and professionalism. He was named the world's Most Valuable Player for a reason."
According to a report on the French website rugbyrama, Matfield's departure from the ambitious Pro D2 club Toulon has been an open secret.
The website claimed that Matfield - as well as Toulon's other international stars, All Black hooker Anton Oliver and Wallaby scrumhalf George Gregan - became disillusioned at the level of violence they encountered in the French club scene.
Toulon have been at the centre of a recent outburst of violence, which saw their coach, All Black great Tana Umaga, banned for 10 days.
The first set of incidents occurred in the match between Toulon and Tarbes in Toulon on 15 March. The clubs were both found guilty of brawling and fined. Toulon was fined €10 000 and Tarbes €5 000.
The second case was the brawl in Pau when Toulon played Pau on 29 March. Umaga appeared before a disciplinary commission after being sent from the field during the Pau match, when ignored the referee's instructions to leave the playing enclosure.
All Black Saimone Taumoepeau was sent off in the same match, allegedly for kicking an opponent. George Gregan was sent to the sin-bin in the match for obscene dissent.
Following a series of violent incidents in matches in March, the Ligue Nationale de Rugby's disciplinary tribunal suspended 10 players.
The suspensions include:
Mafileo Kefu (Toulon), suspended for 60 days
Philip Fitzgerald (Toulon), suspended for 30 days
Saimone Taumoepeau (Toulon), suspended for 20 days
Tana Umaga (Toulon), suspended for 10 days
Damien Costanzo (Pau), suspended for 30 days
Jalil Narjissi (Agen), suspended for 50 days
Arnaud Mignardi (Agen), suspended for 30 days
Thomas Soucaze (Agen), suspended for 20 days
Laurent
Travini (Mont-de-Marsan), suspended for 30 days
Jocelino Suta (Mont-de-Marsan), suspended for 20 days
While the violence is being given as the primary reason for Matfield's departure, the publication also criticises the Bok lock for not being fully committed to the Toulon cause.
They claim Matfield, along with the other international stars at the club like Gregan and Oliver, were not performing up to expected standards.
Although Matfield spent a lengthy spell on the sidelines with injuries, he was often used as a loose forward by Umaga, despite being regarded as the world's premier lock forward.
Yet, the French publication feels he did not perform like a World Cup-winner and that the international stars may have arrived at the club a year too soon.
Although Toulon, who tops the Pro D2 standings, have not won promotion to the Top 14 yet, they are expected to hold onto first place in the standings and move up for next season.
It is felt that the club would need players with the experience of Matfield, Gregan and Oliver when they compete with the big teams in the top flight of French rugby.
However, all three - Matfield, Gregan and Oliver - have already gone public with their wishes to depart.
While Matfield will continue playing, Gregan and Oliver are expected to quietly slip into retirement.
