Racing Deny Halfpenny Contact

Photo: rgmcdtt

Racing Metro have distanced themselves from making an approach for British & Irish Lions star Leigh Halfpenny with their president Jacky Lorenzetti denying any contact with the fullback's representatives.

Halfpenny, whose contract is up at the end of the season, is one of the most sought after players in world rugby having starred for both Wales and the Lions in recent times. Earlier in the year, he was named the Six Nations Player of the Championship having slotted 74 points for Wales and helped them secure their second northern hemisphere title in as many seasons.

And for the Lions, Halfpenny shone for the tourists scooping the Player of the Series award for a host of superb performances including his man of the match showing in the final Test.

With fellow Lions Dan Lydiate, Jonathan Sexton and Jamie Roberts preparing for life at Racing Metro next season, Halfpenny has been heavily linked with a move to join them in France. But despite reports in the Rugby Paper stating that Toulon, Clermont and Metro had all met Halfpenny's representatives, the Parisian side have released a statement denying any contact.

"Racing Metro 92, through its president Jacky Lorenzetti, wishes to deny this information. The club is not one of the proposed bidding agents."

Despite Metro's apparent distancing from Halfpenny, the Welsh Rugby Union is still on high alert as it attempts to keep one of Wales' top players at his current region the Cardiff Blues. The Blues' CEO Richard Holland is fully aware of the uphill battle that his organisation faces with the Top 14 clubs able to offer Halfpenny a bigger deal.

And Holland has confirmed the Blues will be helped financially by the WRU when they sit down and offer Halfpenny a new contract.

"We haven't got three-quarters of a million to put on the table, or half a million," Holland told the Rugby Paper. "I will be honest with his representatives and tell them what we can afford. There has to be a realisation that we can only afford so much.

"All I can do is put forward something which is competitive and we are confident we can broker a deal to keep Leigh at the Blues. The WRU has made additional funds available."

Holland Hopeful About Halfpenny

Cardiff Blues chief executive Richard Holland says that Leigh Halfpenny is going nowhere, despite the raft of players leaving the Welsh region.

The Wales full-back ended the 2012 Six Nations with an impressive 66 points, after taking over the kicking duties and scoring two tries against Scotland.

But the 23-year-old is under contract until the summer of 2013.

"Leigh's still in contract, and he's in contract for another season," confirmed Holland.

"So contrary to some of the threads that are going on, he's going nowhere."

However, the Blues could yet lose Alex Cuthbert who is being courted by French big spenders thought to include Racing Metro and Toulon.

The giant wing, 21, enjoyed a hugely successful debut international season for Wales, scoring the crucial try in the Grand Slam decider against France.

"Alex Cuthbert, an offer has been made to him - a very competitive offer - and we await his decision," said Holland.

Cuthbert's rise has been so swift that he was still on a development contract at the Blues and awaiting his first senior deal.

Holland was speaking at a press conference to announce that the Blues would be seeking a new director of rugby to work above the current coaches.

The position has been vacant since Dai Young left last June to take over at London Wasps.

His assistant coaches Gareth Baber and Justin Burnell have been in charge at the Welsh region since November.

Gethin Jenkins, Casey Laulala, Martyn Williams, Paul Tito, Maama Molitika, Ben Blair, Taufa'ao Filise and Deiniol Jones are among 12 senior players leaving the Blues at the end of the season.

So far, the Blues have announced three new signings for next season in fly-half Jason Tovey , prop Campese Ma'afu and blindside flanker Robin Copeland.

Centre Gavin Evans has pledged his future to the region by signing a two-year extension to his contract.

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