Stade Francais have recalled Ollie Phillips from the England sevens squad in an increasingly ugly spat between clubs and countries over player availability.
Phillips, one of the world's top players in the abbreviated game, should have been preparing for the London leg of the IRB World Sevens Series that kicks off on Saturday.
But despite his Parisian club's season having already finished, Stade president Max Guazzini on Friday called him back in protest at the treatment of four French players at the hands of the French Rugby Federation (FFR).
"Ollie Phillips has been recalled by his club Stade Francais," said Rob Andrew, elite rugby director for the English rugby federation, the RFU.
"We are very disappointed with this decision as Ollie has been part of the England Sevens squad for the last couple of years and was named World Sevens player of the year last season.
"We have worked closely with Stade this season with regard to Ollie's sevens commitments and have not selected Ollie during the season at Stade's request.
"Ollie is very disappointed to miss our home tournament which is fast becoming one of the biggest events in the IRB Sevens Series.
"We will be asking the IRB to further consider the release of players for the IRB Series under Regulation 9."
Stade Francais had already refused flanker Antoine Burban permission to join up with the France sevens team.
That decision ultimately cost Burban a place on the 15-a-side France team's summer tour to South Africa and Argentina.
Three others -- Montpellier's Fulgence Ouedraogo and Brive duo Alexis Palisson and Fabrice Estebanez -- also missed out on France coach Marc Lievremont's summer touring squad after their clubs had stopped them joining up with the national team at sevens level.
But Guazzini was adamant that he was correct in recalling Phillips.
"I don't see why Antoine Burban shouldn't have taken part in this tournament and Ollie Phillips should have," he told AFP.
"We haven't even received the call-up from the English rugby federation, which during the Six Nations didn't make it easy for us with James Haskell (who was not released by the England team between two matches)."
"If the England team wants to look after our players and pay them, there's no problem."
Turning his ire on the French federation, Guazzini said: "This blackmail is shameful. If the federation has something to tell the clubs off about, then it must do so with the club and not innocent victims (the players)."
Copyright 2010  AFP Global Edition
