<p>Man this would suck if I was a Wales supporter</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/79802860/angry-toulon-owner-wont-pay-leigh-halfpenny-if-he-tours-new-zealand-with-wales'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/79802860/angry-toulon-owner-wont-pay-leigh-halfpenny-if-he-tours-new-zealand-with-wales</a></p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
<p> </p>
Angry Toulon owner won't pay Leigh Halfpenny if he tours New Zealand with Wales
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p> </p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class=""> </p>
<p class=""> </p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div><img src="http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/b/i/g/b/9/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1biga4.png/1462825821959.jpg" title="" alt="1462825821959.jpg"><div><span>Dan Mullan</span></div>
<div>
<p>Leigh Halfpenny hasn't played for club or country since last September.</p>
</div>
<div> </div>
</div>
<p><span></span></p>
<p>Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal insists Leigh Halfpenny won't be paid by the club if he tours New Zealand with Wales in June.</p>
<p>The 27-year-old Welsh fullback missed last year's Rugby World Cup after suffering a serious knee injury in a match against Italy, just weeks before the tournament in England kicked off.</p>
<div><img src="http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/b/i/g/c/5/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1biga4.png/1462825821959.jpg" title="" alt="1462825821959.jpg"><div><span>Andrew Couldridge</span></div>
<div>
<p>Halfpenny with the European Champions Cup after Toulon's victory at Twickenham in 2015.</p>
</div>
<div> </div>
</div>
<p>Halfpenny hasn't played for his French club at all this season but he's close to regaining his fitness.</p>
<p>Wales head coach Warren Gatland will name his touring squad on Tuesday.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>"I'm not paying anyone who's not here in June," Boudjellal told the <em>BBC</em>.</p>
<p>World Rugby's article nine states that clubs must release players for international matches, and therefore Toulon would be obliged to release Halfpenny if he's selected.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The clash between club and country has emerged because France's Top 14 final is played on June 25 (NZT), with Toulon currently third on the ladder with three rounds to play.</p>
<p>Wales will face the All Blacks in three tests on June 11, June 18 and June 25 in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin respectively.</p>
<div>
<div>
<div> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p>"We'll go to all the tribunals in the world, but anyone who's not playing for us won't be paid by the club," Boudjellal added.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>"I'm not stopping anyone leaving because there is article nine – but anyone who leaves us before our final match won't be paid by the club."</p>
<p>France are expected to tour Argentina with a depleted squad with many of their likely to be involved in the French playoffs in June.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Halfpenny was registered for Toulon's European Champions Cup but they were knocked out by Dan Carter's Racing 92 in the quarterfinals last month.</p>
<p>And a conflict of interests is causing tension between Toulon's owner and players, with Springbok international Juan Smith also in line to miss the conclusion of the French domestic season when Ireland tour South Africa in June.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>"After the episode of the World Cup and the episode of the injuries, the third episode that is about to happen is the calendar," added Boudjellal.</p>
<p>"We could find ourselves in June without three or four players at least because they are going to play friendly matches for their federations.</p>
<p>"I hope the federations have the intelligence to ... say to themselves that the Top 14 is a real competition and you have to respect the clubs who look after the players all year."</p>
<p><strong> - Stuff</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
