Stade Francais double bid for Leicester Tigers star Julien Dupuy
Julien Dupuy looks increasingly likely to be on his way out of Leicester Tigers after Stade Francais doubled their offer for the scrum-half.
The Paris-based Top 14 side tried to buy the 25-year-old out of the final year of his two-year contract with a bid of 100,000 euros at the end of the season.
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Julien Dupuy
Leicester head coach Richard Cockerill said last week Stade would have to increase their offer if they wanted to sign one of Tigers' players of the season.
The Mercury understands that they have done just that, with an offer of about 200,000 euros (£174,000).
However, negotiations between the two clubs are likely to continue for some time.
Dupuy is in New Zealand with the national side and Tigers are keen to line up a suitable replacement before allowing their French star to leave.
Leinster's Australian veteran Chris Whitaker has been linked with the club and is understood to top their wanted list.
The 34-year-old is an ideal fit, with Cockerill keen to get youngster Ben Youngs some game time next season as well.
Dupuy enjoyed a superb first year at Welford Road after arriving from Biarritz last summer. He started 24 games and kept British & Irish Lion Harry Ellis out of the team for the big games at the end of the season.
However, his girlfriend failed to settle in England and returned across the Channel, and the philosophical Frenchman has maintained that there is more to life then rugby.
"I want to go back to France – my life is there," he said after the Heineken Cup final.
If Tigers agree to let Dupuy follow hooker Ben Kayser to Stade for the start of next season, they are also likely to enter the market for another kicking fly-half.
Dupuy was a front-line goal- kicker last season and, with fly-half Toby Flood injured until October (knee ligaments) and Derick Hougaard out of favour, Tigers would be left with just Sam Vesty as a recognised penalty-taker when the 2009-10 season starts in September.
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by Bob, Whetstone
Tuesday, June 09 2009, 1:14PM
“Roger - I don't quite follow your thinking.
"Out of favour" indicates that the player is towards the bottom of the selection pecking order.
On the other hand, "no comment" adds nothing to our understanding of the situation,”
by Richard Walker, Welford
Tuesday, June 09 2009, 1:00PM
“Why would I have wanted a flag? Flags mean that you can't clap.”
by Rodney, Leics
Tuesday, June 09 2009, 12:55PM
“Did you find yourself a flag for the Heineken Cup final, Richard?”
by Richard Walker, Welford
Tuesday, June 09 2009, 12:36PM
“A fair point Yorkie - and one most of us would agree with.
But bill (sic) has previous and I suspect his point is merely provocative. It is his chip that needs contesting - not mine...”
by Yorkie, Derby
Tuesday, June 09 2009, 12:22PM
“Richard, Welford you may want to think about losing that gigantic chip on your shoulder. I don't think Bill commented on football being a better game to rugby in any way. Most football supporters agree that finances in the game are out of control and I personally prefer the rugby model. However, if you look at how quickly professional rugby seems to have grown in terms of commercial revenue, how long before it too faces the same problems, ticket prices are already significantly higher than they used to be, with a number of fans I'd imagine already being priced out of watching Tigers. Football is a victim of it's own success, how long before the same happens to rugby?”