Julian Savea has been slammed by his club's owner in France who says the former All Black is "not welcome" at Toulon anymore due to his playing form in the Top 14.
Toulon's owner Mourad Boudjellal spoke with French radio station RMC after the side's latest Top 14 defeat - a 19-10 loss to Agen last week - and he didn't hold back talking about Savea.
"If I were him I would apologise and go back to my home country," Mourad Boudjellal told French radio RMC.
"I'm going to ask for a DNA test. They must have swapped him on the plane (when he joined from Hurricanes last year).
"I've told him that he was free to go and wasn't welcome at Toulon any more."
Savea was released from the final year of a four-year deal with New Zealand Rugby in 2018 to take up the offer in France with his international career stalled.
After amassing 46 tries in 54 Tests for the All Blacks, Savea found himself slowly shifted to the outer circles of selection with the likes of Rieko Ioane and Waisake Naholo becoming the preffered options on the wing. His last All Blacks appearance was the third Test against the British and Irish Lions in 2017.
So Savea took up a deal overseas, joining Toulon who were quick to rave about their latest signing.
This is one of the stars of world rugby that joins the Rugby Club Toulonnais for the next two seasons," Toulon said in a statement at the time.
"Equipped with an exceptional physique (1,91m for 108kg), Julian Savea is also a fast player, able to overflow, to win one-on-one duels, to catch high balls and to play after him.
"A complete player who can also evolve at the centre position and further improve the line of three-quarters of the RCT."
However, the hype quickly died down with Savea only scoring one try in 10 matches since joining the club, who currently sit 11th on the table with just six wins from 16 matches this season.
Boudjellal said next season would be difficult for the winger if he opts to come back for the second year of his deal.
"A one-year contract, he can do what he wants, it can be long for the club, a year, but especially very long for the player.
"For me, he is released."
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