THE ENGLISH Rugby Football Union (RFU) will not release flanker James Haskell back to Stade Français for their Top 14 clash with Toulouse this weekend.

Stade said in a statement on Tuesday the former Wasps forward, who joined the Parisians last summer, needs to return to France, as they do not have an agreement with England that would allow Haskell to remain with the national side.

This is not considered an international week by the International Rugby Board, as there are no Six Nations fixtures, but the RFU insist an agreement does exist that allows the 24-year-old to remain in camp with Martin Johnson’s side.