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'I may have been too harsh' Toulon owner Boudjellal softens stance on Savea
Outspoken Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal has admitted that he may have been “too harsh” with his commentary on All Black star signing Julian Savea during this season.
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Boudjellal’s rants over Savea included asking for a DNA test before stating the winger was no longer at the club. RCT president Patrice Collazo mirrored the owner’s sentiment in publicly stating he had nine games left to prove his worth, pressuring Savea with an ultimatum.
His treatment of Savea was widely condemned by players past and present. Savea’s bumper salary believed to be a million euros per season was a trigger for Boudjellal who believed he wasn’t getting a return ‘at that rate’.
“At one point, it was him or me! Quit paying someone as much … especially at that rate.
“I may have been too harsh with him, but I am someone excessive and whole. I never shower with lukewarm water,” Boudjellal told Midi Olympique.
Toulon’s disastrous season saw the club fail to get out of the pool stages of the European Champions Cup for the first time, with losing to the bottom-placed Premiership club Newcastle Falcons at home a low point. They finished 10th place in the Top 14 with their worst placing since they were promoted.
“The RCT has never been so poorly ranked in the Top 14 since I was president! I would love to remake the Toulon Laporte years with, at least, one final per year. I’m working on it, by the way,” he said.
Toulon has signed All Black Nehe Milner-Skudder and Worcester Warriors Kiwi winger Bryce Heem for next season to compete with Savea, French international halfback Baptiste Serin joins from Bordeaux, while Queensland Reds midfielder Duncan Paia’aua and Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth are also headline additions.
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