Stade Francais have reacted to the RFU turning down their request to release England flanker James Haskell for their Top 14 clash against Toulouse by demanding the club release him.
The Parisian club want Haskell to play in this weekend's Top14 lash against Toulouse on Saturday at the Stade de France.
A strongly-worded statement on their website says "On Monday, Stade Francais - finding England international James Haskell absent from training - asked the back-rower to return immediately to Paris."
"This period is not provided for in the IRB's international windows and Stade Francais have a big match against Stade Toulousain on Saturday."
The Rugby Football Union however say that they are not obliged to release the 24-year-old during Elite Player Squad periods and that they have an agreement with Stade.
Stade Francais however insist that the do not have an agreement with the RFU over Haskell.
"No agreement has ever been signed with the RFU, contrary to what they claim," the club said in a statement.
"If it has, let the RFU produce it. "
"The RFU must be confusing us with other French clubs like Toulon, who had to accept one for the current season in relation to Jonny Wilkinson.
"For all these reasons, we are ordering James Haskell, who has already missed two training sessions, to return most urgently."
England want Haskell - who has started all three of England's Six Nations matches this season - to get some rest this weekend so they do not want him playing ahead of their match against Scotland at Murrayfield next saturday.
The RFU went to great detail and expense to get an agreement with all English clubs over player release for England duty but negotiations for English players with French clubs have been done on an individual basis.
"We are aware of the request but he is not going back," an RFU spokesman told the BBC.
"We reached an agreement with Stade Francais last summer and it is in James's contract that he is available during EPS periods, so we are under no obligation to release him."
England have a number of players in their Six Nations squad playing in France and the list includes Jonny Wilkinson, Riki Flutey, Steve Thompson and Jamie Noon.
Paul Sackey has recently agreed to join Toulon for next season and he may run into problems playing for England after this latest club vs country row.
RFU chief Francis Baron wrote to all members of Martin Johnson's elite squad in 2009 and warned them that a move outside England could jeopardise their international future
Stade are currently seventh in the Top 14 but have six games left. The top six teams qualify for the end-of- season play-offs.
Their opponents this weekend Toulouse are fourth.
