CONTROVERSIAL TOULON OWNER Mourad Boudjellal is hoping to take the International Rugby Board (IRB) to court as his war against paying players while they are on international duty continues.
This latest deterioration in the relationship between Boudjellal and the IRB comes on the back of Bryan Habana, Bakkies Botha and Juan Martin Fernandez-Lobbe’s appearance in the Rugby Championship for South Africa and Argentina during which time they were still on Toulon’s payroll.
The 54-year old claims to have the support of Aviva Premiership clubs in England as he prepares to take the IRB to court.
“We’re in the process of speaking to our lawyers in Paris to see if we go to [a] commercial or administrative court,” Boudjellal told French news website Var Matin.
“The IRB rules have no provisions for unions to pay the clubs for their internationals. Yet the IRB is made up of the unions.
“Today, therefore it’s the union who decide that it’s up to the clubs to pay for the internationals.
“There is a clear abuse of power.
“They decide the rules while the clubs have no say in the decisions on the rules.
“It’s as if tomorrow a trade union for employers decided to change the working condition of employees, without consulting the employees. It’s not possible.”
The issue will come to a head again next month when the French Top 14 continues during some of the November internationals.
