ENGLAND WING Paul Sackey is leaving Wasps at the end of the season after eight years with the club and joining the exodus to France. Although the 30-year-old has not revealed his destination, Toulon, Jonny Wilkinson’s club, have been tracking him for weeks.
Sackey becomes the fourth Wasps player to leave for France in the last year, following Riki Flutey, James Haskell and Tom Palmer. And it could be five with Danny Cipriani, a close friend of Sackey, being courted by Stade Francais, Perpignan and Biarritz.
Cipriani had talks with Wasps yesterday about a new contract. Nothing was resolved, but club officials are becoming resigned to losing the 22-year-old England out-half, who has spoken to new Super 15 franchise Melbourne Rebels, not because of financial demands but because, having lost his place in the England squad, he is considering whether to make a fresh start.
“There has been intense media speculation over contract negotiations, but as a club we are focused on re-signings and new recruitment,” said Wasps director Tony Hanks. “Paul leaving the club is a disappointment. He received offers from France that we could not compete with. It is hard to argue with his decision when you consider his career ambition to play for only two or three more seasons. He is securing his financial future.”
French clubs will have a salary cap next season, €8 million compared with just over €4 million in the Guinness Premiership, but they are still sending raiding parties across the English Channel.
Toulon want to sign Leicester and England secondrow Ben Kay and Bayonne are interested in England captain Steve Borthwick.
- Guardian Service
