Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'I'll never forget': Laumape posts farewell Stade Francais message

(Photo by Thomas Coex/AFP via Getty Images)

Former All Blacks midfielder Ngani Laumape has posted his Parisian farewell message on social media after it was confirmed by Stade Francais that he had left the Top 14 club ahead of the 2022/23 season. It was May last year when it was announced that the 29-year-old had called time on his 15-cap New Zealand career after opting to take up a three-year in deal in France.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, the move hasn’t worked out as well as the centre imagined and he has now been linked with a switch to the Top League in Japan unless he is tempted back into the New Zealand Super Rugby fold by the NZR.

It was last week when Stade Francais owner Hans-Peter Wild admitted they were embracing the possibility of releasing Laumape from a deal that was agreed in 2021 after the Parisian club had lost France international Gael Fickou to city rivals Racing 92.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

“Ngani Laumape is training with us at the moment,” said the Stade Francais owner at the time. “But his family is having a little trouble adjusting to this huge city that is Paris and we have therefore recently studied the possibility of freeing the player. Whatever happens in the next few days, we will look at what the best option is for him, for his family and for the club.”

It has since been confirmed that Laumape has indeed exited Stade Francais, the club posting an official confirmation on its website that was followed by the ex-All Blacks player sharing his own thoughts about his departure on social media.

“Stade Francais Paris and its New Zealand international centre Ngani Laumape have agreed to put an end to their collaboration following the family adjustment difficulties that Ngani told us about,” explained the club’s official communique.

“Arrived last summer from the Hurricanes franchise, Ngani played 22 games in the pink and blue jersey. The capital club thanks Ngani for this season and wishes him good luck for the rest of his career.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Ngani later added his farewell message via his own social media: “Thank you Stade Francais for the opportunity. Got to meet some amazing people in my time in Paris which I’ll never forget. Merci, Stade Francais. Wish you guys all the best for the upcoming season.”

Ngani’s previous message on social media was last weekend when he pinned an old RugbyPass Instagram card to the top of his page. That message from last year, which pictured him celebrating a try for the Hurricanes, came with a quote in which he outlined his disappointment with the contract offered to him in 2021 by the NZR.

“I offer something in the midfield that no other midfielder can offer in New Zealand,” he said in the message, something he has highlighted again now that he is in the market for a new club after exiting Stade Francais.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 45 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

307 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Why Freddy Douglas has played for Scotland before Edinburgh Why Freddy Douglas has played for Scotland before Edinburgh
Search