News

Umaga's job is safe

September 26 2008

Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal has strongly denied rumours that former Wallaby coach John Connolly will be taking over Tana Umaga's role as Head Coach of the French club.

"Tana Umaga and Jean-Jacques Crenca are the coaches of Toulon," Boudjellal told L'Indépendant.

"We're seventh with twelve points, with a team that has a lot of injuries and a lot of problems. It would really not be the time to perturb the balance that they are trying to bring to the club by bringing in a third party in the middle of all that.

Despite the controversy, Boudjellal has clearly not lost his sense of humour. In French, "Connerie" means "a stupid act" or "drivel" and the RCT president was quick to make a play on words.

"It's just a new rumour, on of the big rumours that have emerged these last few months. There's been 'Sébastien Chabal is coming to Toulon', 'Jonny Wilkinson is coming to Toulon' and now 'John Connolly is coming to Toulon'. I think we should rather speak of John Connerie because that what it is."