Toulouse set to sue Welsh captain Thomas
French giants Toulouse are threatening to sue Wales captain Gareth Thomas for an alleged breach of contract which saw him tour Australia with Wales rather than represent his club side.
Toulouse, who made the Top 14 play-offs claim Thomas was under contract to play for them in the closing stages of the season. Thomas however opted to tour Australia with Wales where he captained them in both Tests.
The two tests saw Thomas become Wales’ most capped player of all time, with 94 caps, as well as increasing his Welsh try record, which now stands at 38.
The WRU are backing Thomas in this row, stating he was free to tour and make his own decision.
“The French Rugby Federation informed Toulouse that under IRB regulations, Gareth Thomas was free to tour,” WRU spokesman John Williams said.
“He also sought independence advice, and that advice was very clear.”
Toulouse president, Rene Bouscatel, has said the club now intends to take legal action against Thomas, even though the French rugby’s governing body have informed them that they were in fact obliged to release Thomas for international duty.
“There will be no deal with someone who is ungrateful. I will have him,” Bouscatel said.
Thomas was in his final year of a three-year contract with Toulouse, and has already agreed to join Cardiff Blues next season.
“I am gutted that my time with Toulouse will end like this. I had a great time there and made good friends so I wanted everything to end amicably,” Thomas said.
“I don’t feel that I’ve done anything wrong. The rules said I had to come on the tour. I still have a lot of respect for the club and the president.”
