Piri's French pass

MEGA-RICH rich French club Perpignan will swoop on Piri Weepu with a staggering $70,000 a month contract offer if he falls out of favour with the All Blacks again this year.

  The Hurricanes star comes off contract at the end of this season and already has clubs wooing him even though he is determined to regain his position as New Zealand’s No 1 halfback.

  But Perpignan, the club that coaxed Daniel Carter to France last year on a one-season $1.7m deal, have targeted Weepu, who controversially missed the last World Cup and wants a big year to secure his place in the All Blacks for the 2011 tournament in New Zealand.

  Halfback Nicolas Durand is joining the Paris club Racing Metro next season and French newspapers have reported that Perpignan want Weepu to replace him.

The Toulouse club has also shown interest as it will need a  replacement for veteran former All Black Byron Kelleher.
  Weepu won’t be going anywhere if he remains in the frame for the All Blacks.

Jimmy Cowan has established himself as the favoured No 9 by the All Blacks coaches but it’s unclear what the pecking order is underneath him.

  Weepu, Andy Ellis and Brendon Leonard have all had spells out injured, meaning the selectors have never needed to show their hand and drop one of them.

 But in this year’s Super 14 all four are fit and playing well, so one will face the axe.
  Weepu’s agent Bruce Sharrock said no decisions would be made until things are clearer on the All Blacks front.
  “There has been no direct contact (with Perpignan) and while our people in France are aware that Piri is off contract at the end of 2010, he is still really focusing on whether or not the World Cup is real for him. To enter into negotiations now would be premature.’’

  However, Sunday News has been told by another leading agent that several clubs would love to snap up Weepu.
  “Halfbacks who can kick goals are in big demand in France, particularly ones that can also play No 10,’’ the agent said. ``He is exactly what clubs are looking for.’’

  Sharrock said that once Weepu was on the market, there would be a mad rush to grab his signature.
"The reality for Piri is that he has options within his contract,’’ Sharrock said.

"At this stage he’s committed to being the best player he can be and hopefully regain his No 1 spot as an All Black in 2010.”

- © Fairfax NZ News