Stade demand RFU releases Haskell

Haskell scored two tries in England's opening Six Nations win over Wales

England flanker James Haskell is at the centre of a club-versus-country row with his French team Stade Francais demanding he is released for club duty.

The Parisian giants want Haskell to play in a Top 14 match against Toulouse on Saturday at the Stade de France.

But the Rugby Football Union says it is not obliged to release the 24-year-old during Elite Player Squad periods and has an agreement with Stade.

Stade insist they have not signed any agreement over Haskell with the RFU.

We are aware of the request but he is not going back RFU spokesman

"No agreement has ever been signed with the RFU, contrary to what they claim," the club said in a statement. "If it has, let the RFU produce it.

"The RFU must be confusing us with other French clubs like Toulon, who had to accept one for the current season in relation to Jonny Wilkinson.

"For all these reasons, we are ordering James Haskell, who has already missed two training sessions, to return most urgently."

Late Haskell try secures win over Wales

England would prefer Haskell, who has started all three of England's Six Nations matches so far, does not play this weekend ahead of their next match against Scotland at Murrayfield a week on Saturday, 13 March.

The RFU has a binding agreement with all English clubs over player release but has had to negotiate individually with French clubs over any English players joining up for Elite Player Squad (EPS) periods.

"We are aware of the request but he is not going back," an RFU spokesman said.

"We reached an agreement with Stade Francais last summer and it is in James's contract that he is available during EPS periods, so we are under no obligation to release him."

As well as Wilkinson, Riki Flutey, Steve Thompson and Jamie Noon also play in France with Brive, while Paul Sackey recently agreed to join Toulon for next season.

In March 2009 RFU chief Francis Baron wrote to all members of Martin Johnson's elite squad warning them they could jeopardise their international future by moving abroad.

With six games remaining, Stade are seventh in the Top 14, just outside the top six teams that will qualify for the end-of- season play-offs, while Toulouse are fourth.

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