Dr Phil to Toulon

[An Tarbh]

Contepomi to quit Leinster at end of season
Thursday, 12 March 2009 18:52

Argentina international Felipe Contepomi will leave Leinster at the end of the current season after agreeing to join Toulon.

Contepomi, who to date has scored 1,193 points in 111 appearances for Leinster, has agreed a four-year deal with the French side.

Contepomi said: 'This is one of the hardest decisions that I have ever had to make in my career. I spoke with my family about it at length, but I feel that the end of this season is the best time to make a new start. I have played some of the best years of my career with Leinster. They are the team that I have also played with the longest in my career.

'Since joining Leinster a few years ago I have seen the team grow, on and off the field, every year. I feel a strong link with Leinster because I have been blessed an Irish born daughter (Catalina) and with people who supported my ambition to complete my medical studies.

'The supporters will always hold a special place in my heart for the way in which that they have treated me and my family. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the management, my team-mates and all of our supporters for the opportunity to play with a team that I will always hold close to my heart.

'We have three important months left in the season and my sole intention now is to do my best to try to help to win the Heineken Cup and retain the Magners League ***le for the club. It has been an incredible journey and I'd like to finish it on a high.'

Leinster Coach Michael Cheika said: 'Felipe has been an unbelievable asset to the club and he's going to be sadly missed. He has been a great support for us at all levels and played an important role in the transition of the club into a strong professional organisation.

'His departure will inevitably provide an opportunity for another player, but Felipe still has a big role to play in the remaining months of the season.'

RTÉ Sport

 

[dundeesmiffy]

 

[shtove]

Good news for Leinster, I'm thinking.

How much do they get?

And who replaces him?

 

[An Tarbh]

well I would imagine nothing considering he's out of contract and I'm not aware of any signing on fees for clubs in rugby.

This should put a stop to Sexton going to Perpignan and we should really go after Keatley now.

If one thing's been proven though it's that Nacewa is not a natural successor at 10, offers much more out wide.

 

[Cymro]

I always hate seeing this man playing, which shows what a good player and servant to Leinster he has been!

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Good on him. He'll be missed by Leinster but he's near the end of his career and I don't begrudge him the large wad of cash he's going to pick up in the south of France. I'm guessing Leinster didn't offer him a 4 year deal given his age (he's 31). He'll be nearly 36 at the end of his contract with Toulon.

If the rumour of Jonny Sexton going to Perpignan is true, Leinster are up s*%t's creek at outhalf next year. They'll only have the unsuitable Isa Nacewa and the untested Ian Madigan and Ian McKinley as options. I think they'll go shopping in the summer for a stopgap 10 in case Sexton leaves or doesn't pan out (Holwell back for a year possibly?). Ian Keatley is another option. If Sexton stays, hopefully the money "saved" by losing Contepomi and probably Whitaker can be spent on a top quality scrumhalf.

 

[An Tarbh]

He must have been offered some deal by Toulon cause he's bound to have messed up his tax situation here.

Sexton cannot be allowed to leave now, behind Contepomi's he's our next best fly half and if Cheika showed a bit of faith in him he wouldn't be disappointed.

Keatley should be brought in and if we get as expected one of Stringer or Reddan with O'Donohue in line for even more game time then we should be much better off at scrum half next year.

Now if only the rumours about Ross were true then we'd all be laughing.

 

[shazbooger]

Cant see the IRFU allowing a foreign import in to play at 10, so I'd imagine Sexton will receive some kind of guarantee (similar to that he received about Holwell) or Keatley will be "transferred".

Happy enough to see Dr Phil get the financial reward at the end of his career. He still has a good 3-4 years left in him I'd say so why not.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Mar 13 2009, 10:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

He must have been offered some deal by Toulon cause he's bound to have messed up his tax situation here.[/b]

I heard that Contepomi didn't earn a huge amount during his time with Leinster. Leinster paid his fees for the Royal College of Surgeons in full while also paying for his accomodation and car with his wage on top of that not amounting to too much. It's not until last season when he was a fulltime player that he started earning a big sum of money. I may have picked it up wrong but if the above is true, he wouldn't be entitled to a big cash sum from the government thus making the Toulon offer even more attractive.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (snoopy snoopy dog dog @ Mar 13 2009, 02:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Mar 13 2009, 10:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He must have been offered some deal by Toulon cause he's bound to have messed up his tax situation here.[/b]

I heard that Contepomi didn't earn a huge amount during his time with Leinster. Leinster paid his fees for the Royal College of Surgeons in full while also paying for his accomodation and car with his wage on top of that not amounting to too much. It's not until last season when he was a fulltime player that he started earning a big sum of money. I may have picked it up wrong but if the above is true, he wouldn't be entitled to a big cash sum from the government thus making the Toulon offer even more attractive.
[/b][/quote]

I would have thought though that even with Leinster paying his fees, car and accommodation that he would have still picked up a decent wage on top of that but if as you say that was the case he's right to leave as he would have had no chance of getting a 4 year deal with Leinster which even if it was offered probably wouldn't have been as attractive as Toulon's.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Mar 12 2009, 09:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

This should put a stop to Sexton going to Perpignan[/b]

According to Peter O'Reilly in the Times, it has put a stop to Sexton leaving:

Jonathan Sexton, who recently signed a two-year contract extension with the province
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rug...icle5951719.ece