Will Genia
Australia and Reds scrumhalf Will Genia has signed a 3-year contract to join Top 14 club Stade Francais after this year’s Rugby World Cup.
“We can confirm that Will Genia will be part of our squad after the World Cup (which ends 31 October). It’s a great signing and one which will strengthen our squad in a vital position,” Stade Francais president Thomas Savare said on radio France Bleu 107.1.
The Papua New Guinea-born Wallaby had been linked with a move to Europe for months but Bath were firm favourites to sign the 27-year-old, who even signed a pre-contract with the English Premiership side.
“There had been discussions,” admitted Savare. “We had to talk to Bath and found a solution that makes everyone happy.”
Genia has played for the Reds throughout his 8-year professional career, winning a Super Rugby title with the side in 2011.
Genia will face fierce rivalry for a starting position at Stade Francais, currently sitting at 3rd in the Top 14, with Julien Dupuy or Julien Tomas already in the roster while Jerome Fillol, 37, is likely to retire at the end of the season.
“It will spark some competition and that’s always good,” explained Savare.
The former Wallabies captain has been plagued with injuries over past months, but recent performances have shown some glimpses of the form that earned him 58 caps with Australia.
Sport24
Some unhappiness about this:
Australia scrumhalf Will Genia will join Stade Francais from Queensland Reds after the World Cup in October but the French side’s decision to announce the move early has angered his current employers.
Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) Chief Executive Jim Carmichael said he and the 27-year-old had not expected Stade President Thomas Savare to reveal the move to a French radio station.
“Although Will and I confirmed this decision some time ago, he had made it clear to us that he didn’t want anything to disrupt his final season with the Reds and his team mates,” Carmichael was quoted as saying by AAP on Friday.
“As a consequence, the QRU is extremely disappointed that the comments made in France overnight have denied a player of Will’s standing … the opportunity to inform his team mates, supporters and the admirers he has throughout Australian Rugby in the appropriate fashion.”
Genia, who has previously captained the Wallabies and led the Reds to the Super Rugby title in 2011, had looked set to move to Australian Conference rivals Western Force in 2012 only to change his mind and re-sign with the Brisbane-based side.
But he has not enjoyed the same success since, with injuries hampering his play and Nick Phipps frequently getting the Wallabies starting berth ahead of him.