Northampton lose Picamoles to Montpellier for £870,000
The worst-kept secret in rugby was confirmed yesterday when Northampton Saints announced that Louis Picamoles, their outstanding France No8, would be joining Montpellier for a “significant transfer fee” thought to be €1million (£870,000).
The club have promised to reinvest the proceeds in the playing squad but, at this stage in the year, most deals have already been done. An emotional reunion with Samu Manoa remains a possibility and so, too, is a deal for Leone Nakarawa, the outstanding Fijian second row from Racing 92, while Sergio Parisse is also reportedly looking for a way out of Stade Français.
Whoever they recruit will have massive boots to fill. Wherever the blame lies for the Saints’ wretched season – even though they salvaged a Champions Cup place through the play-offs – none can be attached to Picamoles, who won the club’s playerof-the-year award, as well as earning a place in the Premiership team of the year.
Meanwhile, Northampton flanker Tom Wood was banned for six weeks yesterday for a stamping incident that cost him a place in England’s squad for this month’s tour of Argentina.
The 30-year-old had been named in Eddie Jones’s squad for England’s June 10 and 17 Tests against Argentina, but was dropped from a revised 32-man list this week, given the likelihood of a suspension. Wood was sent off during last Friday’s European Champions Cup playoff win over Stade Français, for stamping on full-back Djibril Camara.
European Professional Club Rugby said in a statement that an independent disciplinary committee hearing ruled there had been “reckless contact” with Camara’s head.
The committee decided that a 12-week ban would be appropriate, but halved it after taking into account Wood’s guilty plea, expression of remorse and good disciplinary record. The sanction will include Northampton’s pre-season games, with Wood free to play again on Aug 28.
Wasps hooker Tommy Taylor and Worcester prop Nick Schonert have pulled out of the England squad through injury.