Castaignede set to sue FFR
January 21, 2002

French fullback Thomas Castaignede looks set to take legal action against the French Rugby Federation after snapping his Achilles tendon before a Test against Australia just over 12 months ago.

Castaignede suffered the injury in November 2000, and the Guardian newspaper in England - for which Castaignede writes a weekly column - says he has contacted the French rugby players' union regarding the matter.

Castaignede's English club Saracens has also sought to reach an agreement with the FRF over his salary, having paid it since he sustained the injury but now informed him it will not do so after the end of this month.

"I don't want to fight my federation but I have to take steps to get some action," Castaignede wrote in his column on Monday.

"It's been a year and two months since my injury, and soon I will face earning nothing until my Achilles tendon is working perfectly.

"It's important that I stand up for myself but the question of who should pick up the bill when a player is injured on international duty has a wider importance for the game as a whole."

FRF officials were unavailable for comment after the publication of the article, with Castaignede saying while the Federation had helped him deal with the injury it had not yet paid any compensation for his wages.

"My career is on the line and I feel I'm being punished in every way," he wrote. "I haven't been able to walk without pain for 14 months, I haven't been able to play and I'm facing losing my wages.

"I'm really disappointed that I've had to call in the players' union but I fear if I do nothing the federation will do nothing."

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices