President of French rugby club Toulon regrets signing Sonny Bill Williams
President of French rugby club Toulon regrets signing Sonny Bill Williams
By David Murray
December 02, 2008 THE president of French rugby club Toulon has indicated he regrets signing superstar recruit Sonny Bill Williams.
Volatile millionaire Mourad Boudjellal says his struggling side's biggest problem is that it recruited the wrong players this season.
He did not name Williams, but his comments will be taken as a swipe at the injured former Bulldog.
After another defeat on the weekend, Boudjellal said he had taken his eye off the ball when Williams and other players were signed to the club.
"The decisions I regret concern primarily the recruitment," he said.
"I should have gone into battle more in summer. I let some good players go by, I was less of a presence.
"With the budget we had, we have not made a team that is competitive enough."
Williams has been on the bench for three months after breaking his leg at the start of the season.
Other new signings this year include Australians Matt Henjak, formerly of the Western Force, and Luke Rooney, from the Penrith Panthers. New Zealander Jerry Collins and South African Joe van Niekerk were also among the international stars recruited to the French team.
Toulon lost 6-13 at home to Dax on the weekend, leaving them at 11th on the table and in danger of dropping out of the Top 14. A fed-up Boudjellal said he felt like letting the club fall out of the top French league. "At the moment, if I listened to my instinct, I'd go off on holiday for three months and let the club drop," he said.
"So I'd rather not listen to my instinct and battle with everyone else. I wouldn't take decisions at times like this."
In a further insult to out-of-favour coach Tana Umaga, Boudjellal has also been in talks with another possible successor.
Former France international Philippe Saint-Andre confirmed on radio that he had met Boudjellal in Paris last week.
"I have nothing more to add for the moment," said Saint-Andre, who is currently in charge of English club Sale.
Previously Toulon's president had been in discussions with former Australia coach John Connolly.
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