Truth about Haskell's Stade move

England flanker James Haskell has always claimed his move to Stade Francais was not for the cash.

So it's interesting to know that his agent, Jamie Salmon, stopped working with him in January after becoming infuriated at his infatuation with cash and celebrity.

After January 1st, Haskell was free to negotiate with other clubs. Wasps made him a decent offer to stay and Salmon urged him to make a decision based on "rugby reasons".

But the player, influenced by his obnoxious father Anthony, had other ideas.

That could backfire on him now. England boss Martin Johnson has made it clear that playing abroad will jeopardise players' international hopes.

Yet Haskell has signed a pre-contract agreement with Stade and pulling out of a move will cost him dear....

Hall cuts ties with Man City

PR guru Phil Hall has cut his ties with Manchester City after losing patience with chief executive Garry Cooke.

Hal, a former editor of the News of the World, isn't a man known for his scruples. In truth, he seems willing to work for anyone if the cash is good enough.

Fred Goodwin, the disgraced former chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland, is one of his clients. And so too was Thaksin Shinawatra, described by Human Rights Watch as "a human rights abuser of the worst kind".

But Hall has had enough of Cooke, who he finds difficult to deal with and "a bit of a prat".