The prop had a few things to get off his chest after defeat at Welford Road.
The final game of an action packed European Champions Cup weekend saw Leicester beat champions Toulon at Welford Road last night, 25-21. The win makes Pool 3, which includes Ulster, one of the tightest in the competition and the return match next weekend in France should be an extremely spicy affair, especially after the comments made by Martin Castrogiovanni.
The former Leicester man moved to Toulon in 2013 and in the post-match presser, as reported in the Telegraph, he launched a four-letter word laden attack on his former boss, Tigers’ Director of Rugby Richard Cockerill.
Castrogiovanni spent seven years at the English club before leaving and he used last night to make sure that his exit was explained properly, and nothing to do with money.
“He (Cockerill) was saying that people go for the money but he has a lot of squad players who get paid as well,” Castrogiovanni said. “I paid my own f—— money to leave this club. I don’t need the money to play rugby.
“I never had the opportunity to defend myself when I left because people talked about this s— and Cockers talks about the money, but the real thing when I left this club is because you have [Dan] Cole and you have me.
“Cole gets paid half the money from the RFU and I am foreign. You have a good tighthead prop playing for England and a hairy fat Italian.
“The thing is they made it look like I went for the money, but I paid £100,000 from my pocket to leave this club because I want to play rugby. That’s it.
“I never want to speak with Cockers anymore. I’m the kind of guy that if I hate you, if you are not clear with me or if you have been a c—, how you say in English, I never want to speak to you anymore. That’s it. That’s how I am. I am not fake.”
Strong stuff from Castrogiovanni, and Cockerill tried to claim it was no big deal when the quotes were put to him.
“One day he’ll realise that’s just sport. This club made him the player he was. I don’t want him to feel bitter towards us. One day we’ll have a beer together and smile about it.”
We have our doubts about that Richard. Roll on next week.
UPDATE: Castrogiovanni’s comments have attracted the attention of the disciplinary officer of tournament organisers EPRC, and both Leicester and the Italian have been asked for further information before a decision is made on any further action.
Toulon’s Delon Armitage is also being investigated for allegedly using offensive language ‘at or near spectators’, an EPRC statement read.
