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Will Genia's French adventure is officially over

Will Genia /Getty

Will Genia’s French adventure is officially over, with Stade Francais’ manager this week telling French sports weekly L’Equipe that the Paris club has agreed to release the 29-year-old from the final season of his three-year deal.

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Speculation over the future of the Wallabies vice-captain, who is currently training with the Australia squad ahead of the Rugby Championship, has been rife for some time.

Genia signed a contract with the Australian Rugby Union in November and has spent the past few months finalising details.

But mystery remains over exactly where he will end up for the start of the next Super Rugby season – and the player is keeping his cards close to his chest.

The scrum-half had said as recently as June that he would rather return to Stade Francais for one more season than play for any club other than the Queensland Reds, who gave him his start in professional rugby, where he would reunite with Quade Cooper.

But the Reds are currently well served in the halfback department, with Nick Frisby, James Tuttle and Moses Sorovi on the books. Melbourne Rebels is the new favourite destination for the 78-cap international.

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The player has refused to be drawn on speculation at a training camp press conference, telling reporters only that an announcement will be made ‘soon’.

“It’s pretty much finalised, I’ve just got to wait and add the last little bits of the detail,” was all he would say, claiming ignorance on his final destination.

“I’m here just concentrating on camp … I’ll just wait and see where I’m going to play.”

Back in 2015, the scrum-half had turned up for duty at Stade Jean-Bouin, as he had previously promised, the day after the World Cup final, though a knee injury aggravated in the showpiece match against the All Blacks at Twickenham cut short his first season.

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B
BeamMeUp 1 hour ago
The Springboks have something you don't have

A few comments. Firstly, I am a Bok fan and it's been a golden period for us. I hope my fellow Bok fans appreciate this time and know that it cannot last forever, so soak it all in!


The other thing to mention (and this is targeted at Welsh, English and even Aussie supporters who might be feeling somewhat dejected) is that it's easy to forget that just before Rassie Erasmus took over in 2018, the Boks were ranked 7th in the world and I had given up hope we'd ever be world beaters again.


Sport is a fickle thing and Rassie and his team have managed to get right whatever little things it takes to make a mediocre team great. I initially worried his methods might be short-lived (how many times can you raise a person's commitment by talking about his family and his love of his country as a motivator), but he seems to have found a way. After winning in 2019 on what was a very simple game plan, he has taken things up ever year - amazing work which has to be applauded! (Dankie Rassie! Ons wardeer wat jy vir die ondersteuners en die land doen!) (Google translate if you don't understand Afrikaans! 😁)


I don't think people outside South Africa fully comprehend the enormity of the impact seeing black and white, English, Afrikaans and Xhosa and all the other hues playing together does for the country's sense of unity. It's pure joy and happiness.


This autumn tour has been a bit frustrating in that the Boks have won, but never all that convincingly. On the one hand, I'd like to have seen more decisive victories, BUT what Rassie has done is expose a huge number of players to test rugby, whilst also diversifying the way the Boks play (Tony Brown's influence).


This change of both style and personnel has resulted in a lack of cohesion at times and we've lost some of the control, whereas had we been playing our more traditional style, that wouldn't happen. This is partially attributable to the fact that you cannot play Tony Brown's expansive game whilst also having 3 players available at every contact point to clear the defence off the ball. I have enjoyed seeing the Boks play a more exciting, less attritional game, which is a boring, albeit effective spectacle. So, I am happy to be patient, because the end justifies the means (and I trust Rassie!). Hopefully all these players we are blooding will give us incredible options for substitutions come next year's Rugby Championship and of course, the big prize in 2027.


Last point! The game of rugby has never been as exciting as it is now. Any of Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Argentina, Scotland, England & Australia can beat one another. South Africa may be ranked #1, but I wouldn't bet my house in them beating France or New Zealand, and we saw Argentina beating both South Africa and New Zealand this year! That's wonderful for the game and makes the victories we do get all the sweeter. Each win is 100% earned. Long may it last!


Sorry for the long post! 🏉🌍

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LONG READ Gatland defiant but Welsh rugby no nearer escape route with Springboks looming Gatland defiant but Welsh rugby no nearer escape route with Springboks looming
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