Underfire Savea vows to stay on at Toulon
Struggling former All Blacks wing Julian Savea says he will be ‘‘putting all the negativity behind me’’ and will continue to train with Toulon despite a tirade from the French club’s owner.
Savea has been told he is free to go and is not welcome at glamour club Toulon any more.
Outspoken Toulon boss Mourad Boudjellal was so incensed with Savea’s performance in their 19-10 loss to Agen that he said he would seek a DNA test, he told RMC radio in France.
It seems Boudjellal doesn’t believe Savea is the same tryscoring machine he signed last year.
‘‘I’m going to ask for a DNA test. They must have swapped him on the plane [when he joined from the Hurricanes]. If I were him I would apologise and go back to my home country,’’ Boudjellal said.
But Savea hit back with a tweet, saying he would adopt a ‘‘positive attitude . . . whether I am welcomed or not’’.
That drew an immediate response form his wife, Fatima, who tweeted: ‘‘So proud of your maturity. You’re an amazing human being, father, husband and team-mate and everyone who knows you will agree. Love you.’’
Fatima had earlier expressed mental health concerns about players being targets for abuse amidst performance issues.
All Black Ardie Savea also showed support for his brother as he shared a message from former Wallaby and Toulon player Drew Mitchell.
‘‘This type of carry on from [Boudjellal] won’t exactly entice other players to play for @RCTofficiel,’’ Mitchell tweeted.
‘‘Business or not you just don’t treat ppl like this. Good luck wherever you play next bro!
@juliansavea7’’
It remains to be seen if the controversial and demanding Boudjellal will follow through with his words.
‘‘When we reach this level of play, we must apologise and leave,’’ Boudjellal said. ‘‘I told him he was released and he was no longer welcome at Toulon. He has got a year left on his contract. He can do what he wants.
‘‘A year can be long for the club but especially for the player . . . for me he is released.
It continues a sorry time for Savea who joined Toulon from the Hurricanes on the back of a struggling period where he lost his way with the All Blacks.
A car accident and a midseason trip to attend his brother Ardie’s wedding in Fiji have seen Savea hit the headlines in France for the wrong reasons.
Once touted as the next Jonah Lomu because of his imposing physique for a wing – 1.92 m
and108kg – Savea scored 46 tries in 52 tests for the All Blacks. But he has scored just two tries for Toulon and even been tried in the midfield to get him more involved.