Lee Halfpenny. Tooooo Expensive for Clermont Auverne.

RUGBY UNION
Wales and British and Irish Lions full-back Leigh Halfpenny has failed to reach agreement with Clermont Auvergne over wages ahead of a possible switch to France according to WalesOnline.

A source told the website that "Clermont viewed the wage demands put forward by his management for Halfpenny's services to be excessive."

Do such players, NH players that is consider them selves more expensive (Need to be paid more than they are worth) Althoughy HP might be a Lions star is he claiming to be worth more than he is?

Discuss.

They could get a very good SH player probably for a lot less money who will probably be available for a lot more games for them and not necesserily get burnt out by the autumn internationals and the 6N.

Clearly the rumours of an open cheque book accross the channel are much exagerated!

This could of course just be a good negotiating strategy as well!

ASM are top try scorers in the top14. Already have Lee Byrne and Buttin who can cover the FB position. So they probably have a clear idea of what they would be willing to pay 1/2P, presumably for his higher kicking % than brock james.

FB just isnt anywhere near as important a position as 10. Hence why Sexton and Wilko command the big bucks.

Not sure this says anything about 1/2P over-valuing himself. Maybe he likes being in Wales, and doesnt want to uproot himself and take the risk of joining a new setup, unless the money makes all the worries go away.

What's this? A player too expensive for a T14 side?!

How the hell are the Blues hanging onto him if so?

Btw should this not be in the club section?

Lee Byrne is leaving for the Dragons

Halfpenny probably got a higher offer from somewhere else.

I thought 1/2 Penny was off to Toulon?

Clermont have deep pockets but short arms. They dont like to pay up and that what frustrated Cotter end of last season. The auvergnat people are our very own Scots, tightfisted bunch no offense to the folks north of the borders I hope !

1/2 is worth every penny he asks for, with Byrne com in back to Wales i am really surprised by this and expect the real reason to be more complex than just wedge

1/2P is woth what he's worth. whatever the value of the P, he's worth 1/2P

Their young fullback Buttin will be a star for Clermont and France. I'm glad this has happened because not only does it deprive Welsh fans of seeing their best homegrown talent, it really affects the stream of talent coming into the France national set-up.

Clermont feel they can build from within and fair play to them. Halfpenny will go to Toulon if Wilkinson retires I think, but if not he might yet end up staying in Wales in the short term, who knows?

Have salary caps ever been discussed up north? Do you guys like them or loath the concept?

Who imposes salary cap on Welsh regions?

Dunno, who, the WRU themselves?

I mean, who thinks these sports players around the world are actually worth what they're paid? They're paid more than prime ministers and presidents. It's a joke. Good on them but at the end of the day the club/franchise system that pays these players astromical wages through increased ticket prices and skytv subscriptions paid for by us fans sucks the big fat one. Salary cap it unilaterally.

Many sports stars are just greedy and have an overinflated sense of their worth.

there's a great saying in American sports "they'll never pay you more than you're worth". While you may think that professional sports is a hobby or semi-pastime for these individuals, it's a business, and a very lucrative one at that. They don't get overpaid, unless the bigwigs get overpaid. A salary cap wouldn't stop you paying exorbitant ticket and T.V. fees, it would just create fatter profit margins for the clubs, and directors, the guys that absolutely don't give a damn.

DeludedOptimistorjustDave wrote:Lee Byrne is leaving for the Dragons

How do you know that? I haven't seen anything official and the only speculation was between us and the Blouse

Is this the start of the French Clubs tightening the purse strings?

Being BBC SPOTY runner up has obviously gone to young Leigh's head. He must have been looking for a serious wage hike if he's priced himself out of the top 14........  

Risca Rev wrote:

DeludedOptimistorjustDave wrote:Lee Byrne is leaving for the Dragons

How do you know that? I haven't seen anything official and the only speculation was between us and the Blouse

Pure speculation, we are fine for fullbacks anyway and none of ours get noticed for International duty anyway.

All I want for Christmas is a new front row   

The rumour is 1/2p is purposely pricing himself out of a move because he wants to stay at the blues.

ASM need a 10 first and foremost. Halfpenny is a great player but should not be their priority

His heads gone!

gcBlues wrote:The rumour is 1/2p is purposely pricing himself out of a move because he wants to stay at the blues.

  

Scratch wrote:Who imposes salary cap on Welsh regions?

The regions agreed it amongst themselves as part of belt tightening measure, and to stop players moving from region to region and inflating wages. So now they go to france instead. That was a genius idea wasn't it.

Bluedragon wrote:

Scratch wrote:Who imposes salary cap on Welsh regions?

The regions agreed it amongst themselves as part of belt tightening measure, and to stop players moving from region to region and inflating wages. So now they go to france instead. That was a genius idea wasn't it.

  

Notch wrote:Their young fullback Buttin will be a star for Clermont and France. I'm glad this has happened because not only does it deprive Welsh fans of seeing their best homegrown talent, it really affects the stream of talent coming into the France national set-up.

Clermont feel they can build from within and fair play to them. Halfpenny will go to Toulon if Wilkinson retires I think, but if not he might yet end up staying in Wales in the short term, who knows?

1/2P clearly not going to toulon. wilko and delon armitage have both extended their contracts.

quinsforever wrote:

Notch wrote:Their young fullback Buttin will be a star for Clermont and France. I'm glad this has happened because not only does it deprive Welsh fans of seeing their best homegrown talent, it really affects the stream of talent coming into the France national set-up.

Clermont feel they can build from within and fair play to them. Halfpenny will go to Toulon if Wilkinson retires I think, but if not he might yet end up staying in Wales in the short term, who knows?

1/2P clearly not going to toulon. wilko and delon armitage have both extended their contracts.

Jenkins was a decent back-up for Sheridan so maybe HP could warm the bench for Delon?

And apparently Warburton was too expensive for Saints. These guys pricing themselves up to keep the big French spenders away actually makes sense, unless the French actually meet their demands I guess. But with Clermont and Toulon out of the running I can't see who will. I assume that these are two of the six who may get centrally contracted to the WRU if todays negotiations fail.

I would guess that Byrne will return to Ospreys. They're absolutely crying out for a decent full back!

It's great to see the French clubs desperate to get hold of the best players in the Northern Hemisphere, and Flood.

Actually, that does make sense Saint. It was mentioned earlier but it seemed so unlikely so I didn't accept it as what happened. But if Wales already have a salary cap (which I didn't appreciate), this is a patriotic move by 1/2p so good for him. If he really did want to move to France, he'd accept less, which is probably still more than what he's currently paid in Wales if there's a cap. Players that don't chase the money are heroes in my book.

what are you lot on?

some people go for the money some people dont. some people stay cause their girlfriend/wife doesnt want to be away from their family, some go cause their girlfriend/wife cant wait to get away. imputing motives is ridiculous. these are all personal and individual decisions.

Risca Rev wrote:

DeludedOptimistorjustDave wrote:Lee Byrne is leaving for the Dragons

How do you know that? I haven't seen anything official and the only speculation was between us and the Blouse

Rev,

I had heard similar rumours few weeks back but no more since and nothing concrete, would be good capture for us if he did come to Dave.

Gents,
I don't understand the notion that some players are strategically making salary demands so high they end up staying with their current team.  Or at least not go to France.  A guy like Halfpenny, at the top his game as he certainly is, should be able to command the absolute maximum the market can bear for a fullback/wing.  He doesn't need competitive offers to drive up his price at home, his stature at the moment is all he needs.  And if negotiated with ASM in bad faith, what does that say about the credibility of his business manager team?  And if he takes less to stay in Wales then what was the point of talking to ASM in the first place?  If he doesn't want to leave his current team, why jerk other people's chains?

I spent a lot of time with Saints yesterday and people were joking openly about the Warburton flirtation.  Didn't seem to me from my conversations with people at the club that Saints were terribly serious and the initial interest came from Warburton's management team.

I can't begrudge anyone for going for a max contract since Rugby players, like a lot of professional athletes in other sports, have a very short shelf life.  The salaries in Rugby are not enough for 99% of players to be set for life, so they need the money to give them a nest egg to build on for the rest of their lives.  The problem is the extraordinary salaries in France seriously unbalance the financials of the sport globally and are a risk to long term viability of Rugby.  I have no problem if France serves as a retirement community for Rugby when players done with International Rugby can continue to play and command large salaries.  But when players in their prime are leaving their countries to play in France it is dangerous.  To me all players representing their countries should play in their countries.  But to deliver on that vain hope, then we need to revisit the financials of Rugby.  And we all know how expert, capable, and big picture the business managers in Rugby are at the moment............

Apparently Clermont are close to signing Zac Guildford.

I would guess that Byrne will return to Ospreys. They're absolutely crying out for a decent full back!

Freakin Amen to that Saint!

bedfordwelsh wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:

DeludedOptimistorjustDave wrote:Lee Byrne is leaving for the Dragons

How do you know that? I haven't seen anything official and the only speculation was between us and the Blouse

Rev,

I had heard similar rumours few weeks back but no more since and nothing concrete, would be good capture for us if he did come to Dave.

No smoke without fire   

I started this thread but to be honest i did not think i would get much response from it.

I have read a few and i do agree with doc-grey if Halfpenny did not want to leave the Blues and Wales for that matter, why has he or his agent approached Clermont in the first place...Question i would like to know is Halfpenny going to be ( out of contract) and out of the Blues at the end of the season with no where to go?

Surely he will come to some agrement with the blues.

What price is to high for a talented player like Halfpenny?

majesticimperialman wrote:
I have read a few and i do agree with doc-grey if Halfpenny did not want to leave the Blues and Wales for that matter, why has he or his agent approached Clermont in the first place...

In order to leverage the right price for a contract extension in Wales and a back up plan if the right terms are not presented to him. Most top players do this, its fairly standard.

[quote="majesticimperialman"]
Surely he will come to some agrement with the blues.

Depends what the Blues offer him if its peanuts then why should he stay? If they offer him money to match or get near to matching any French offers then the Blues are palying dodgy game as Warburton will expect same.

  

Risca Rev wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:

DeludedOptimistorjustDave wrote:Lee Byrne is leaving for the Dragons

How do you know that? I haven't seen anything official and the only speculation was between us and the Blouse

Rev,

I had heard similar rumours few weeks back but no more since and nothing concrete, would be good capture for us if he did come to Dave.

No smoke without fire   

Quite right. I am going to re-start the rumour that Biltong promised to buy all Scottish posters on these boards a drink.  

How about "he would prefer to stay at the Blues in an ideal world but if his agent put an enormous contract on the table he likely wouldnt turn it down, but it looks like this time they pitched a bit too high".

I think the point here is he wont move unless theres and incredibly good offer on the table, but the French clubs arent that desperate for his services yet.

Love it George   

Let's not forget what happened to Gethin Jenkins: before he went to Toulon he was perhaps at the peak of his career. A first choice prop for Wales, vastly experienced, winning many international man of the match awards, lauded by many with the "world class" tag, etc., etc. However, Cardiff Blues couldn't afford to keep him. He wanted to stay. He didn't even want more money. He is quoted as saying that the Blues offered him considerably less in the new contract. And this for arguably the best loosehead in the country. The top boy in his position. Less! That's what forced him to leave. Stay and take a pay cut or leave and get a pay rise. No brainer. This promoted Peter Thomas to come out with his quote at the time that they couldn't afford to have welsh internationals on the books as they cost too much for players that were hardly ever available. And he had a point in many ways.

Perhaps there is a similar situation with the blues and halfpenny. Remember that the region's policy of blooding youngsters, while applaudable, means that at the end of any given season there will inevitably be boys needed to be bumped up from their academy/development contracts to senior pro contracts, and this will cost. So perhaps Patchell, Owen Williams, Harry Whatshisface, etc. will be costing a bit more from next season and there is less money available to cover the costs of Leigh £0.005?

Griff wrote:Let's not forget what happened to Gethin Jenkins: before he went to Toulon he was perhaps at the peak of his career. A first choice prop for Wales, vastly experienced, winning many international man of the match awards, lauded by many with the "world class" tag, etc., etc. However, Cardiff Blues couldn't afford to keep him. He wanted to stay. He didn't even want more money. He is quoted as saying that the Blues offered him considerably less in the new contract. And this for arguably the best loosehead in the country. The top boy in his position. Less! That's what forced him to leave. Stay and take a pay cut or leave and get a pay rise. No brainer. This promoted Peter Thomas to come out with his quote at the time that they couldn't afford to have welsh internationals on the books as they cost too much for players that were hardly ever available. And he had a point in many ways.

Perhaps there is a similar situation with the blues and halfpenny. Remember that the region's policy of blooding youngsters, while applaudable, means that at the end of any given season there will inevitably be boys needed to be bumped up from their academy/development contracts to senior pro contracts, and this will cost. So perhaps Patchell, Owen Williams, Harry Whatshisface, etc. will be costing a bit more from next season and there is less money available to cover the costs of Leigh £0.005?

There are some cracking Peter Thomas quotes from around the time Gethin announced he was leaving. Real belters they were with regards to the £750,000 budget cut, Nugget/Shanks and of course CCS/CAP.

quinsforever wrote:what are you lot on?

some people go for the money some people dont. some people stay cause their girlfriend/wife doesnt want to be away from their family, some go cause their girlfriend/wife cant wait to get away. imputing motives is ridiculous. these are all personal and individual decisions.

Aye and Jamie Roberts said he didn't leave for financial reasons. Was offered £300k to stay too.