Top14 club sack ex-All Black with immediate effect

Sunday, 07 June 2020 at 14:09

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bySteven Smith

Pau have sacked former All Blacks playmaker Tom Taylor for leaving France without authorisation from the club during the Covid-19 crisis.

The drastic measure on leaves the former Crusaders and Toulon man Taylor, who can play at out-half, inside centre and fullback, searching for a new club.

“On March 17, 2020, the club noted that Mr. Tom Taylor had left the national territory without any prior authorization from his employer even though all players were asked to remain at the disposal of the club and to respect government measures in as part of the fight against Covid-19,” reads Pau’s statement.

EDITORS PICKS:

“This personal decision, contrary to all the instructions which had been given by the club since March 13, was not justified.

“It put the team and all the staff in complete disarray since there was no information about the dates on which the championship could resume and it was therefore necessary that players were all immediately available in the event of a resumption of activity, which all of his team-mates understood and respected.

“The club regrets the player’s behaviour, which runs contrary to club values, team spirit and basic ethics.

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“During preparation for the ’19/20 season, the squad had voluntarily put in place cultural rules, committing to respect moral values and to demonstrating exemplary behavior on and off the field.

“Faced with these materially established facts, the club had no other option than to initiate a dismissal procedure against Mr. Tom Taylor.

“The club will not comment any further at this time.”

British & Irish Lions predicted 2021 starting XV according to the bookies

Odds are accurate on Wednesday, 22nd April 2020, 8am, and are subject to change.

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Fullback: LIAM WILLIAMS (Wales 4/7)

Other contenders: Stuart Hogg (Scotland 4/6), Jordan Larmour (Ireland EVS), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales 5/1), George Furbank (England 7/2)

Left wing: JONNY MAY (England 1/25)

Other contenders: Jacob Stockdale (Ireland 1/3), Adam Radwan (England 40/1), Jack Nowell (England 11/4), Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales 13/8)

Outside-centre: JONATHAN DAVIES (Wales 1/3)

Other contenders: Henry Slade (England 5/6), Garry Ringshow (Ireland 4/6), Jonathan Joseph (England 13/8), Chris Harris (Scotland 20/1), Huw Jones (Scotland 6/1)

Inside-centre: MANU TUILAGI (England 1/3)

Other contenders: Robbie Henshaw (Ireland 5/6), Hadleigh Parkes (Wales 5/4), Sam Johnson (Scotland 9/2)

Right wing: JOSH ADAMS (Wales 1/18)

Other contenders: Anthony Watson (England 4/6), George North (Wales 2/1), Elliot Daly (England 10/11), Joe Cokanasiga (England 3/1), Keith Earls (Ireland 9/2)

Fly-half: OWEN FARRELL (England 1/25)

Other contenders: Johnny Sexton (Ireland 1/2), Dan Biggar (Wales 8/15), Finn Russell (Scotland 3/1), Marcus Smith (England 8/1)

Scrum-half: CONOR MURRAY (Ireland 4/6)

Other contenders: Tomos Williams (Wales 5/4), Ben Youngs (England 6/4), Ali Price (Scotland 2/1)

Looshead-prop: MAKO VUNIPOLA (England 4/6)

Other contenders: Ellis Genge (England 1/3), Cian Healy (Ireland 5/6), Joe Marler (England 5/2)

Hooker: JAMIE GEORGE (England 1/10)

Other contenders: Luke Cowan-Dickie (England 4/6), Ken Owens (Wales 7/4), Stuart McInally (Scotland 7/2)

Tighthead-prop: Tadhg Furlong (Ireland 1/15)

Other contenders: Kyle Sinckler (England 1/5), Tomas Francis (Wales 11/8), Harry Williams (England 5/1)

Lock: MATO ITOJE (England 1/10)

Other contenders: James Ryan (Ireland 1/5), Jonny Gray (Scotland 8/11)

Lock: ALUN WYN JONES (Wales 1/5)

Other contenders: Iain Henderson (Ireland 4/6), Courtney Lawes (England 5/4), George Kruis (England 7/2), Jean Kleyn (Ireland 33/1), Richie Gray (Scotland 5/1)