France V England Hospitality
After much patient negotiation Johnson has persuaded Stade Francais, with whom England fell out with spectacularly at the end of the last Six Nations, to allow James Haskell and Tom Palmer to attend on the Monday night and Tuesday at Twickenham next week before heading back to Paris for their game against Bourgoin but has accepted Toulon’s decision to keep Wilkinson in the south of France for their Friday night match again Bayonne.
“We believe that these have been the right decisions to take after close and amicable consultation with the clubs concerned,” said Johnson. “We will continue to have regular contact and subject to fitness look forward to seeing all of the players when we meet again at the end of October ahead of the Investec internationals.”
Stade and Touloun strongly dispute the latter and in March last year Stade owner Max Guazzini wildly accused England of “blackmail” when they refused to release Haskell for a match against Toulouse during a fallow week in the Six Nations although England were fully entitled to retain him in camp between matches. The situation is much less clear cut on this occasion and Johnson has opted for the concilatory appraoch.
Wilkinson, in outstanding form in Toulon’s 39-19 win at the Felix Mayol Stadium, in any case faces a fitness race to be fit for Toulon’s opening game against Bayonne and the club want him in situ for intensive treatment.
"But we also believe it is clear from the contract he signed with Toulon that his first allegiance on Aug 13 is to Toulon. Our club rugby season has started and takes precedence. In addition now he has a blow on his shoulder and he will need daily treatment and assessment to play against Bayonne.”
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