Cohen on strike after captaincy snub

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The 28-year-old, who has been linked with a move to Leicester, has not attended a training session since Bruce Reihana was confirmed as skipper last Wednesday and declared his intention to leave the Saints in a meeting with chairman Keith Barwell.

But Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder confirmed they will not be terminating his contract, saying: "Ben's contract with the club runs until the end of the coming season and he is not able to play for any other club in the meantime."

The strong indication is that any club interested in signing Cohen would have to make Northampton a suitable offer.

Cohen, who made his Saints debut in 1996 and won the Heineken Cup in 2000, has met with Barwell and Mallinder in recent days. Both requested he return to training.

But the 2003 World Cup winner was conspicuous by his absence from the Northampton squad that faced Samoa in a friendly last Sunday and has not been seen this week.

Barwell explained: "Ben came to see me and said he was unhappy about not being appointed captain. He said: 'That's it, I'm off'.

"I am bitterly disappointed both with Ben's decision and also with his action in staying away.

"He has been a brilliant servant to the club for more than 11 years but no man is bigger than the club.

"It is the director of rugby's responsibility to appoint the captain and I support Jim's choice of Bruce Reihana wholeheartedly - his decision must be final."