By Jason Harris
July 8 2002

Midi-Olympique reported on Monday morning that the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR)do not recognise the contract apparently agreed between Christian Califano and Toulouse before his sabbatical in Super 12s with Auckland Blues, which, accoring to the club, meant he had to return to them. The LNR received last Wednesday the two sides of the story; one from Stade Toulousain president Rene Bouscatel, the other from Califano's Paris-based lawyer.

Though this latest development in favour of the player's argument that he is free to play at Saracens next year is not quite the end of the matter.

As reported last week, there is a court hearing date set for 22 July where the "prud'hommes" of Toulouse will judge whether Stade are justified in their claim for €1.2m compensation from the French international prop.

This compensation claim is against Califano himself and not his new club, so Saracens are going to avoid another brush with the French authnorities after the long-running, still unfinished Thomas Castaignede injury pay saga.