Saracens' summer signing Christian Califano is to be sued by his former club Toulouse over his transfer to the Watford-based club.

The transfer of the France prop from New Zealand provincial side Auckland Blues on a lucrative three-year deal has been shrouded in controversy ever since it was first announced back in April.

From the outset, Toulouse have vehemently claimed the 29-year-old, who has won five French titles and a European Cup with the French outfit, is contracted to them until June 2005 and now appear to have lost patience.

"Through their lawyer, Toulouse are taking me to court and asking for 1.2 million euros (£778, 077) in compensation for my refusal to stay with them next season," Califano told French newspaper Midi Olympique.

The Saracens' management team, however, have persistently refuted the speculation surrounding the arrival of Califano and fully expect the versatile prop, capped 65 times by his country, to report for pre-season training on Thursday July,15.

"If there was an argument to answer we would have been sued by now, his agent would have been sued by now and Califano would be stated as a Toulouse player, but he isn't," previously stated Saracens' managing director Tim Lawler.

"I think it's just a bit of mis-communication between the club and the player that we are not part of. He will be a man in black next season and the RFU have already registered him to play here next season."

July 1, 2002 17:30