Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb will no longer feature for French Top 14 side Toulon after club owner Bernard Lemaitre hit out at the “dishonest” attitude surrounding the player’s return home.
Webb, 31, was originally set to leave the three-time European champions at the end of the season to move back to the Ospreys.
Earlier this week, the Welsh Rugby Union announced Webb would be eligible to feature in this year’s Six Nations after being given an exemption from a rule requiring players to have more than 60 caps if they wish to represent their country while playing abroad.
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“His family is back in Wales, it’s difficult for him. We made beach-sized amounts of time for him to be able to go back and see his family in Wales,” Lemaitre, who took over majority ownership of Toulon from Mourad Boudjellal last month, told Sud Radio.
“All of a sudden we learn he has already signed for the Ospreys and his agent had already negotiated with the Welsh union that he can be selected. It’s a dishonest attitude.
“It takes us to a situation where I think Rhys Webb will not play in the Toulon shirt again. The adventure will be cut short,” he added.
Webb was left out of Toulon’s squad as they hammered Castres 43-3 to move to third in the Top 14 table at Stade Felix Mayol.
The two-time British and Irish Lions Test player watched from the stands as his side — with Baptiste Serin playing scrum-half — crossed for six tries against the ill-disciplined visitors who were shown three yellow cards.
Later on Sunday, title holders Toulouse travel to bottom-club Stade Francais in French rugby’s Clasico as World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe returns from a minor back injury for the champions.
AFP NEWS