Racing line up Aussie replacement for Nakarawa whose compensation case has encountered a hitch

Racing 92 have apparently lined up a long-term replacement for mid-season departure Leone Nakarawa. The Fijian had his contract terminated by the Parisian club after he returned late from the World Cup. 

He has since joined Glasgow Warriors, leaving the Top 14 outfit with a vacancy to fill, and Midi Olympique are reporting that Luke Jones, the Australian who featured in the recent Inside the Barbarians documentary by RugbyPass, is believed to be ready to pen a two-year deal starting on July 1.

The current Melbourne Rebels player has previous experience of France having played at Bordeaux, the club he prematurely left when Michael Cheika convinced him to come home in time for the recent World Cup. 

Jones eventually failed to make the cut for that tournament in Japan and is now set to make the switch back to France.

In the meantime, there is no sign of a resolution to the legal situation between Racing and the ousted Nakarara, who was first laid off on November 12 and then dismissed outright on December 6 by club president Jacky Lorenzetti for returning 16 days late from a post-World Cup holiday.

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A conciliation hearing was due to take place this week but was delayed due to a lawyers’ strike in France. 

Nakararwa had a season and a half remaining in his contract when he was let go and it is believed he is claiming compensation in the region of between €600,000 and €800,000 from Racing.

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