Henjak's second chance with Toulon
09th December 2009 11:06
http://images.planetrugby.com/09/12/...on_2395207.jpg Matt Henjak: Another chance to shine
In a surprise move, Australian scrum-half Matt Henjak has been named in Toulon's squad to face Rovigo in the Amlin Challenge Cup on Friday, a month after he was forced to give up his place at the club to accommodate Felipe Contepomi.
Everyone, Henjak included, thought the former Western Force number nine had played his last game for Toulon on November 5.
Because of a Top 14 rule limiting the number of non-European licence holders a club may have, Toulon had to drop a foreign player from their squad to make place for Contepomi and Henjak got the axe.
But Director of Rugby Philippe Saint-André and his staff have found a loophole in the European Cup rules and Henjak, playing with an amateur licence which will allow him to partake in six games, will be part of the Toulon squad to host the Italians.
What's more, the Australian could be named skipper for the his 'comeback' match.
"I'm very excited," Henjak told Midi Olympique.
"I thought I'd played my last match a month ago, but here I am back again!"
Hanjak will have extra motivation to put on a good performance. Not only will his ability to play professional rugby this year depend on Toulon staying in the competition, but with the rules in France set to change next season, he could earn himself a new contract.
From next season, the limitations on foreigners will fall away in favour of a new quota rule for "Players trained in France", meaning their might be a place to Henjak at Toulon in 2010.
http://www.planet-rugby.co.za/story/...760607,00.html
