Barkley quits Top 14 Rugby club Grenoble

 Former England international Olly Barkley has left Top 14 club Grenoble with immediate effect after his time in France did not work out.

Barkley, 32, had last week told Grenoble officials of his desire to leave the club despite having a contract that ran until 2015.

“Olly Barkley is no longer part of the squad,” a club official told AFP on Wednesday, saying the two parties had talked and instigated a breaking of the contract.

“Grenoble weren’t able to integrate Olly into their gameplan. It was in his interest and that of the club that we went out separate ways.”

The best paid player in Grenoble’s squad, Barkley had joined from Racing-Metro, where he also played very little.

Capped 23 times by England, Barkley scored a measly five points for Grenoble in only five Top 14 games, starting just three.

His last league outing was in the September 13 defeat to Clermont, appearing since then only in European Challenge Cup games.