Vodacom Super Rugby
Michalak back in Super Rugby?
2011-04-26 18:41
Toulouse - Former French flyhalf Frederic Michalak is set to leave European champions Toulouse and sign for the Waratahs in the Super 15, it was reported by Midi Olympique rugby newspaper on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old - capped 54 times by France - has failed to win back his starting place since returning from South Africa's Sharks, with whom he won the Currie Cup in 2008, though his 2009/10 campaign was ruined by a serious knee injury.
The club have offered the mercurial Michalak the chance to extend his contract but only if he plays at scrumhalf - but he is determined to play at flyhalf.
His place at the club - who he first appeared for at aged 18 and with whom he has won one French title and two European Cups - came under more pressure last week when it was announced flyhalf Lionel Beauxis, Australian scrumhalf Luke Burgess, All Black Luke McAlistair, who can play at centre and flyhalf, had all signed for next season.
"We asked him to give us a reply at the beginning of January and we are still waiting," said an increasingly impatient club president Rene Bouscatel.
Bouscatel denied that there was any personal rancour between him and Michalak, who tweeted on April 7 his bitterness at being given such an ultimatum.
"There is no Michalak affair," insisted Bouscatel.
"I would be very happy if he stayed."
Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, Michalak's former halfback partner and now the backs coach at the club, said that Burgess's signing had made it nigh on impossible for him to remain at the club.
"He is a child of the club and that will be heart rending if he leaves," said Elissalde.
"We will see what his decision is, but he has already been replaced numerically by Luke Burgess."
Michalak, a veteran of two World Cups where on both occasions France reached the semifinals, will make an announcement on local radio on Wednesday evening.