Genia: Early leak leaves Reds fuming
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Will Genia's move to Stade Francais was made official by the club's President Thomas Savare on a French radio station Thursday, leaving the Reds fuming at the early announcement.
Australia scrumhalf Genia will now join Stade Francais from the Queensland Reds after the World Cup in October.
Queensland Rugby Union Chief Executive Jim Carmichael said he, and Genia, had not expected Savare to reveal the information during the scrumhalf's last season with the Reds.
“Although Will and I confirmed this decision some time ago, he had made it clear to us that he didn't want anything to disrupt his final season with the Reds,” Carmichael was quoted as saying by AAP on Friday.
“As a consequence, the QRU is extremely disappointed that the comments made in France on Thursday have denied a player of Will's standing the opportunity to inform his team mates, supporters, and the admirers he has throughout Australian Rugby, in the appropriate fashion.”
There has been much speculation around Genia's potential move after the World Cup, a strong link to Premiership side Bath was made last year.
Genia had also looked set to move to Australian Conference rivals Western Force in 2012, only to change his mind and re-sign with the Brisbane-based side.
He has not enjoyed the same success since, with injuries hampering his play and Nick Phipps frequently taking the Wallabies starting berth ahead of him.
Genia, capped 58 times by the Wallabies, said the birth of his first child had been a big factor in his decision to move away from Australia, which will put his international career on hold.
“Having our first baby, Olivia, has changed my perspective and [my wife] Vanessa and I decided we wanted to experience life in a different part of the world,” he said.
“I'm thankful for the opportunities the Reds and the broader game of rugby have given me but, at this stage of my career, I decided that it was the right time to make the move.”
The struggling Reds will see another of their Wallaby skippers, in lock James Horwill move to Europe after the World Cup.
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