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Thread: French rugby clubs Racing 92 and Stade Francais announce merger

  1. #1
    Veteran beige's Avatar
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    French rugby clubs Racing 92 and Stade Francais announce merger

    Top French rugby clubs Racing 92 and Stade Francais, who between them have won the last two Top 14 titles, on Monday announced a shock plan to merge from next season.

    "This association, effective from next season, will give birth to a new club that preserves the roots of Racing 92 and Stade Francais Paris, while expanding the means for youth and French rugby," said a statement announcing the deal.

    The club presidents, Jacky Lorenzetti of reigning Top 14 champions Racing 92 and Thomas Savare of Stade Francais, champions the previous year, were to speak later Monday at a press conference.

    (REUTERS)

    http://www.france24.com/en/20170313-...nnounce-merger

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    Veteran chibi's Avatar
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    Similar to what happened to their soccer sides all those years ago.

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    Veteran beige's Avatar
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    FRENCH giants Racing 92 and Stade Francais, winners of the last two Top 14 titles, announced a shock merger to create a ‘super club’ that leaves many top stars in limbo.

    Racing and Stade Francais are two of the biggest rivals in the French championship and the merger from next season came as a lightning bolt for European rugby.

    Rivals expressed concern about the creation of a rugby behemoth as Racing’s real estate billionaire owner Jacky Lorenzetti said he wanted to “build day after day the reference of French rugby.”

    “The merger will create a super club,” said Yann Roubert, the president of Lyon.

    “The combined talents of these two clubs, the last two champions of France, are pretty formidable.”

    Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal said the deal would change the face of Top 14 rugby.

    “We have entered a new era of big capitalism, where money comes before the human aspect,” he said, decrying the fact that top players would lose their jobs.

    Lorenzetti said in a letter to supporters that the two Racing coaches Laurent Travers and Laurent Labit, who will take over coaching duties at the new club, would have to “make choices.”

    “Players will be axed,” he warned.

    “They’ve got 45 players, we’ve got 45 players, 45+45=45,” he said.

    “Merit will be the criteria, probably youth and the factor of being selectable” for France, Lorenzetti said.

    Opposition to the merger came swiftly from disgruntled Stade Francais players with French international fullback Eric Bonneval tweeting: “13/03.2017: END.”

    “This is not a merger. Stade Francais has been bought by Racing... This is the death of our club...” said lock Paul Gabrillagues.

    “I won’t be part of this,” said Stade backrower Sekou Macalou while teammate and international lock Pascal Pape tweeted: “My sadness is so great.”

    The news sent shockwaves through France’s rugby federation (FFR).

    “The FFR is shocked to learn via the media this project leading to the disappearance of one of the two biggest clubs in French rugby,” a statement announced.

    The federation added it was “extremely stunned at the supposed creation of a new club without being consulted.”

    Lorenzetti has spent heavily on top talent such as All Black legend Dan Carter, now in the second year of a three-year deal.

    Racing won the championship last year, but are now slumbering in seventh and Carter was jeered off the pitch after a weekend defeat to leaders La Rochelle.

    Stade Francais counterpart Thomas Savare, a finance and credit card technology tycoon, has likewise paid heavily for the likes of Italian captain Sergio Parisse, Australian scrum-half Will Genia and South African fly-half Morne Steyn.

    His team, triumphant in 2015, are currently 12th.

    Read more: http://www.france24.com/en/20170313-...nnounce-merger

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    Veteran chibi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by beige View Post
    Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal said the deal would change the face of Top 14 rugby.

    “We have entered a new era of big capitalism, where money comes before the human aspect,”
    Well how do you like them apples.

    Damn that horrible money hey Mourad?

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    Immortal Contributor jono's Avatar
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    Stade players have gone on strike.

    Stade Francais players say they are on strike over mergers


    Will Genia's immediate rugby future is up in the air with his Stade Francais teammates' decision to strike against the French club's merger with Racing 92.

    Players were shocked by the clubs' decision which may leave some out of a job, while a return to Australia for Wallabies scrumhalf Genia could be on the cards with his stated desire to one day move home.

    Stade Francais lock Pascal Pape said "99 per cent" of his squad has agreed with the decision to take action.

    "We have decided to go on strike. We find this decision intolerable," Pape told reporters on Tuesday, a day after presidents from both Paris-based clubs announced the merger plans.

    "It will be a difficult fight, an irritating one for our players. But as the club's most senior player I am standing by this (decision)."

    The team's next scheduled match was supposed to be away to Castres on Saturday.

    Genia's compatriot Hugh Pyle also plays at Stade Francais, while Racing's squad does not include any Australians but does comprise All Blacks greats Dan Carter, Ali Williams and Joe Rokocoko.

    Racing 92 are the reigning French champions and both clubs play in the Top 14 championship. The clubs have won a combined 20 titles.

    Stade Francais centre Jonathan Danty said he was upset because the players were not made aware of the club's plans.

    "I'm still trying to come to terms with what's been done behind our backs," Danty said.

    "We've always been told we're the future of the club. We've often heard that if we leave, the club's finished, and now we realise that everything's been done behind our backs.

    "It's pretty hard to swallow."

    AAP
    http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugb...14-guy9dd.html

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  6. #6
    Immortal jargan83's Avatar
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    FRENCH clubs Racing 92 and Stade Francais have scrapped merger plans that sparked outrage from top internationals, fans and officials, Racing’s president Jacky Lorenzetti said Sunday.

    Billionaire businessman Lorenzetti and Stade Francais counterpart Thomas Savare announced the plan for the merger of the two Top 14 Paris region rivals on Monday in a bombshell move that players likened to a stab in the back.

    The stunning U-turn came six days later after a storm of protest from players, fans, rugby officials and even the Paris city administration.

    Racing 92 and Stade Francais, winners of the last two Top 14 titles, are two of the most formidable clubs in the French championship.

    Elite stars feared for their careers following the announcement of the plan that entailed a loss of half the playing staff of the combined clubs.

    Opposition was so strong and came from so many quarters that Lorenzetti said he and Savare had been forced into an about turn.

    “I renounce the plan for a rapprochement with Stade Francais. In agreement with Thomas Savare the merger will not take place,” said Lorenzetti in a statement.

    “I heard and understood the strong reservations expressed in response to this project.

    “In any case, the social, political, cultural, human, and sporting conditions were not in place. Perhaps we had the right plan too soon, only the future will tell.”

    More here: http://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/f...62f185dffb439a

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    Legend Contributor Alison's Avatar
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    So there are rugby administrators who are as bad at managing the game as SANZARR!

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  8. #8
    Immortal Contributor jono's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alison View Post
    So there are rugby administrators who are as bad at managing the game as SANZARR!
    at least these ones had a plan to potentially move things forward, and communicated it with the public.

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  9. #9
    Immortal jargan83's Avatar
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    I think in this instance it was a case of club owner's with no clue.

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    Veteran chibi's Avatar
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    I wonder if the FFR stepped in and said "TWO CLUBS IN PARIS, VOUS COMPRENEZ?!"

    Not that European national unions have that much control anymore.

    Hell, seeing as Thomas Savare was desperate for a buyer, why don't the ARU buy it? Couldn't be any worse?

    OWN LE STADE prospectus anyone?

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    Last edited by chibi; 20-03-17 at 13:52.


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    Veteran Sheikh's Avatar
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    Given the number of Australian players who move to Europe for a payday, maybe we should buy the club and rename it, in the manner of London Irish, as Paris Australians. That way we can keep the stars who want a payday happy, can ensure that they are available whenever the Wallabies want them, and maybe if there's so much money in NH rugby help out the ARUs coffers.

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