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Ewen McKenzie, recently sacked by French Top 14 club Stade Francais, on Monday slammed his former employers and accused them of prioritising the recruitment of good-looking players for the club calendar.
“Stade Francais is the best team in the world in terms of marketing,” the Australian told sport daily L’Equipe.
“It’s an international brand. But on the level of their sporting approach some things are shocking. Paris are verging on amateurism.”
He went on to accuse club president Max Guazzini of “only seeing two things – his calendar and the (team’s home ground) Stade de France”.
The popular Stade Francais calendar ‘Dieux du Stade’ (Gods of the Stadium), features nude and semi-nude photographs of team members.
“He has a marketing outlook which is not always in the best interests of sport,” said McKenzie.
“For example, Max could recruit one player over another just because he has a better look for the calendar.
“I had players in my squad who I never chose. Others were requested to leave the club because they didn’t want to pose for the calendar any more.
“I had certain players forced on me who, for me, shouldn’t have been in a team targetting the Top 14 title.”
Former New South Wales Warratahs coach McKenzie was recruited in mid-2008 after the departure of Fabien Galthie. He was sacked on September 8 after the club endured a disastrous start to the season.
He has since been recruited by Queensland Reds for three Super 14 seasons.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.