It's pretty in pink for Gaz
By Nick Walshaw
September 17, 2008 AND we all thought Mark Gasnier had opted out of Mad Monday celebrations.
Dressed in a fab hot-pink polo, Gasnier was introduced on Monday to excited Stade Francais supporters on the Paris club's website.
In less than 72 hours this runaway Kangaroo has gone from knockabout Wollongong boy, oozing the blood of an Immortal no less, to something out of a Pink Panther remake.
"L'Australien Mark Gasnier est arrive aujourd'hui a Paris," the Stade Francais website trumpeted in its opening line. But except for a few ensuing details about age, height, weight and "commencer l'entrainement avec ses nouveaux partenaires des cette semaine" ... well, that was about it.
Gasnier will know he's a long way from the Big Red V, St George Leagues Club and Happy Dragon come his debut in French rugby.
Because Stade Francais president Max Guazzini has taken to decking his players out in jerseys with giant pink lillies and flashes of green.
Oh yeah, Guazzini also gets his team to adopt naked Greco Roman poses every year for a club calender. But while it's all smiles for Gasnier, the same can't be said for Sonny Bill Williams at Toulon.
Chairman Mourad Boudjellal called a crisis meeting at the weekend after his side was beaten by Gasnier's team 19-13.
The millionaire, who certainly hasn't shelled out countless euros to see his team sit ninth, accused some of his players of lacking "soul".
