Haskell scored two tries in England's opening Six Nations win over Wales

By Bryn Palmer

French club Stade Francais have accused England of blackmailing James Haskell as they refuse to release the flanker for a French Top 14 match this weekend.

Stade president Max Guazzini says the RFU is "keeping Haskell prisoner" and he has asked the Six Nations committee to punish England over their stance.

He warned the player faces unspecified "consequences" if he fails to return for Saturday's match against Toulouse.

"In my view it is blackmail," Guazzini told BBC Sport.

"I am very sorry it has come to this. The RFU is keeping him prisoner. Frankly, I find their attitude lacks respect," he said.

England do not expect Haskell, 24, to play for Stade at the weekend despite there being no Six Nations matches, with the Calcutta Cup match against Scotland at Murrayfield to follow on 13 March.

The Rugby Football Union says Haskell has an agreement with Stade that he will be released for England duty during Elite Player Squad (EPS) periods, and the spotlight now appears to be on the details of the player's contract.

But Guazzini claims Haskell's contract simply states he must be made available one week before the autumn Tests and one week before the Six Nations.

The club-versus-country row has now taken an ironic twist after it emerged that Haskell sat out England's training session on Thursday with a stomach bug.

England manager Martin Johnson dismissed the illness as coincidental, saying: "I spoke to the doctor and he said they were symptoms that could not be faked.

If Max wants to talk, that is up to him James Haskell

The RFU has a binding agreement with all English clubs over player release but has had to negotiate individually with French clubs over any English players joining up for EPS periods.

As well as Haskell, Jonny Wilkinson, Riki Flutey, Steve Thompson and Jamie Noon also play in France with Brive, while Paul Sackey recently agreed to join Toulon for next season.

Asked why Haskell would have told the RFU that his contract allows him to be available for England for the entire duration of the tournament, Guazzini responded: "I don't know. It is not true.

"If he has an agreement, let him produce it. He is not respecting his contract, but he is in a difficult position. He is under pressure from the RFU.

"They are blackmailing him by saying, 'If you return, we will kick you out of the team.' This is incredible from people who always take cover behind the rules.

"The RFU pays the English clubs so they can have access to their players when they want. They don't pay Stade Francais anything. Their refusal to release James is against the rules. It is immoral. It is not my fault England lost to Ireland at Twickenham."

Late Haskell try secures England win

Haskell said he was unable to discuss the situation. "I have nothing to say on the matter at the moment," he told BBC Sport. "If Max wants to talk, that is up to him."

Guazzini pointed out that Italy released brothers Mauro and Mirco Bergamasco back to Stade on Monday, as did France with Dimitri Szarzewski and Mathieu Bastareaud, and Scotland with Hugo Southwell.

"All the other players want to play in this game (against Toulouse) - it is a classic match," said the Stade president, who is expecting 80,000 people for the match at the Stade de France.

"Haskell is one of the faces on all the posters around the city and I like him a lot. He is someone I respect and he has integrated very well into the club. But there will be consequences after this."

Guazzini refused to speculate on what those might be, although there have already been suggestions he will attempt to demand compensation from the RFU for access to any England players that sign for the club.

Speaking earlier, England's elite rugby director Rob Andrew said: "What we asked the English players to do a year ago, if they were contemplating going to France, is to ensure that they effectively had the same EPS release periods for training that we have with the English players based in England.

"James and his advisors have told us that he has an agreement with the club that allow him to be here when we wish him to be here."

606: DEBATE I remember Haskell saying when he moved to France it was to improve his England chances so I don't see why he would sign a contract that would not allow him to play for England SwannyWilkinson

Asked if Haskell would be dropped by England if he turned out for Stade Francais on Saturday, Andrew told 5 live: "We will cross that bridge when we come to it, but that is certainly not something we would expect to happen."

And when the same question was put to Martin Johnson, the England manager added: "That changes the situation a little bit if that happens."

This week is not considered an international week by the International Rugby Board as there are no Six Nations games this weekend.

"As far as James is concerned, he believes he has the agreement with Stade Francais that he's allowed to do that," said Johnson. "It's a situation between James and his club and his understanding of his contract with them."

In March 2009 RFU chief Francis Baron wrote to all members of Johnson's elite squad warning them they could jeopardise their international future by moving abroad.

The following month, Haskell's agent Anthony Noguera said his contract with Stade stipulated that he should be released not only for England matches but also pre-competition training weeks.

With six games of the regular Top 14 season remaining, Stade are seventh, just outside the top six teams that will qualify for the end-of-season play-offs, while Toulouse are fourth.

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