125 years of French rugby history swept away in a single day
Fallout from the shock news that two of France’s oldest clubs are set to merge.
“We are aware that we have dropped a bombshell,” Stade Francais president Thomas Savare told reporters at a press conference following the shock announcement that the club was to merge with Paris rivals Racing 92.
It’s one of those phrases that should immediately enter the pantheon of sporting understatements, just below ‘That man is fast’ to describe Usain Bolt in full record-breaking flight. It’s fair to say the merger news has caused seismic ripples in the rugby world.
Once the shock had died down, some reports suggested the unification has been planned for a while; that the proposal was first put forward 10 months ago, while Racing 92 president Jacky Lorenzetti admitted that discussions have been moving rapidly for the past month-and-a-half.
Savare and Lorenzetti were surely aware of the irony of their choice of location for the sweeping away of 125 years of rugby history in Paris – the Jardins de Bagatelle played host to French rugby’s first championship final in 1892 … between Racing and Stade. They were definitely aware that fate had dealt them another irony – that the two clubs are to meet in the penultimate round of the regular season – because they mentioned it. What a way for these two old clubs to go.
First, the facts from the press conference: The clubs announced that, pending approval from France’s Ligue National de Rugby (LNR), they will merge from next season. The job of coaching the new side has fallen to Racing’s Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers, with Stade Francais’ Gonzalo Quesada out of the equation following his decision to leave the club at the end of the season. The latter has since tweeted that he made up his mind to go without knowing of the plans, and was unaware of them prior to the announcement.
While the coaching decision was relatively bloodless, the combined playing staff of 90 has to be reduced to 45 to conform to league restrictions, not to mention ensuring the new club stays within French rugby’s salary cap. Savare said that he and Lorenzetti would work together to decide which players would be retained.
This means 45 more players, including a number who thought they were under contract for some time to come, will be looking for a new club in the coming weeks, and clubs across France and Europe will be watching with interest to see who suddenly becomes available.
As the ever-magnanimous Lorenzetti said: “We wanted to make this announcement early to allow all non-retained players to be able to prepare for their future.”
The as-yet unnamed Paris super-club will first play at Stade Francais’ current ground, Stade Jean Bouin, before moving to the 34,000-seat U Arena in October.
Lorenzetti told the press conference that he expects crowds of about 22,000 at domestic and European matches at the U Arena – even though Racing has a crowd average of just 8,863 this season, and Stade just 9,321. Last season, the biggest crowd the two sides managed was 20,000 at Stade Jean-Bouin for the Paris derby.
Part of the problem is that rugby in France is a predominantly southern affair. The two Paris clubs are fighting a generally losing battle against the big-money lure of soccer’s Paris Saint-Germain.
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While the LNR has yet to formally confirm the merger, its president, Paul Goze, hailed the “work undertaken over the years by presidents Savare and Lorenzetti,” adding: “Having strongly invested in their clubs, they wish now to pool their forces and take a new step in constructing a strong economic model.”
His statement hints strongly that the Ligue’s involvement will be little more than a rubber-stamping exercise.
At the press conference, Lorenzetti was at pains to make it clear the move was not a takeover. He said: “If you want to make us say that Racing has bought Stade Français, then it’s no.”
But rumours and stories about Stade’s situation have been circulating for some time. Last November, it was reported that Savare was seeking to sell the club, and had imposed a belt-tightening regime to make it more attractive to investors, while a look at the club’s transfer dealings hint at something in the ether. A total of 10 players have confirmed their departure, including members of the 2015 Brennus-winning side such as Hugo Bonneval, Raphaël Lakafia, Rabah Slimani and Jérémy Sinzelle; another 10 reach the end of their contract with no apparent hint of interest in renewal, while arrivals have been few and far between.
So there is no wonder that not everyone is convinced by Lorenzetti’s claim – or the show of affectionate solidarity between equal partners for the cameras. This deal is being sold as a merger, but it bears a lot of the hallmarks of a buyout.
And not everyone is happy. While all has so far been pretty quiet from players and staff on the Racing front, the same cannot be said about their opposite numbers in the Stade camp.
Second row Paul Gabrillagues, who signed his first professional contract with the club early in 2016 told Facebook group Supporters du Stade Français Paris: “This is not a merger, it’s the takeover of the Stade Français by Racing… the death of our club, the club of Paris. I will not participate in this masquerade. Show yourselves and show that we are many to love this club.”
Veteran lock Pascal Pape may lead a players’ strike that could hit upcoming Stade fixtures, beginning with this weekend’s trip to Castres Olympique. In a tweet issued shortly after a meeting with club officials at which players were informed of the merger plans, he tweeted:
“Today my sadness is so great that I prefer not to speak. I will communicate soon.”
Aujourd'hui ma tristesse est tellement grande que je ne préfère pas commenter !! Je communiquerai très prochainement.
— Papé Pascal (@pascalpape) March 13, 2017
He later tweeted a call to fans to join a demonstration against the plans outside Stade Jean-Bouin on Monday. That call was retweeted by Sergio Parisse to his 57,500 followers, while France squad members and Stade Francais players Jonathan Danty and Djibril Camara were both released from the France squad to attend the protest. Meanwhile, a number of Stade supporters have already said they will boycott matches for the rest of the season.
Another player currently with the national side, prop Rabah Slimani, tweeted: “Who could kill all that history, a whole club. Players, the coaching staff, and the administrative staff. All the young people, the supporters.”
Ou comment tuer toute une histoire, tout un club. Des joueurs, un staff sportif, mais aussi administratif. Tout les jeunes, les supporters.? pic.twitter.com/RiMoxQ2x1o
— Slimani Rabah (@slimrab89) March 13, 2017
Bonneval’s feelings need no translation:
13/03/2017 ?
— Hugo Bonneval (@hugobonneval) March 13, 2017
And Sekou Macalou simply added: “Without me.”
Sans moi
— Sekou Macalou (@MacSekou) March 13, 2017
The mairie of Paris is said to be ‘furious’ at the news. The city subsidises Stade Francais to the tune of €800,000 a year and funded a €160million redevelopment of Stade Jean-Bouin, which was completed in 2013. It is no surprise, then, that city authorities have demanded assurances that the ground will not be left empty.
The city is unconvinced that the tenancy of Ligue 2 soccer side Red Star – who started a groundshare at the stadium this season – will be enough to maintain the stadium.
FFR president Bernard Laporte, a former coach at Stade Francais, is said to be ‘disappointed’ at the clubs’ decision, and was due to meet club owner Savare on Tuesday, where he was expected to make his opinion clear. It has also been reported that he had floated the idea of creating an amateur side to play at Stade Jean-Bouin, so that the Stade Francais club may survive as a separate entity.
Away from the French capital, Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal, who’s never been afraid of a sly dig or two, especially at the expense of arch-rival Lorenzetti, said: “The takeover of Stade Francais by Racing, because that’s what it is, is just being dressed as a merger.”
“One empty stadium plus one empty stadium will perhaps make one half-empty stadium.”
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments