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Stade Francais in the pink as Jules Plisson and four more French stars decide their futures
Earlier this year the very future of one of France’s most decorated sides, Stade Francais, was far from certain.
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There was the failed merger with city rivals Racing 92 that wasn’t actually a merger. It was – would have been, had it succeeded – a takeover. A ravenous mutating Racing behemoth was ready to pick over the tastiest morsels of once-mighty Stade.
The plan failed, due in no small part to a player strike. So president Thomas Savare, who had been looking to offload the club for some time, stepped up his search for a buyer. He found one in June, in the form of German soft-drinks billionaire Hans-Peter Wild.
Wild has said he will invest €30million of his own money in the club over the next three years. But, while the long-term financial future of the club was secured shortly after the end of last season, the future was not so clear for many of its most valuable assets – its players (the club does not own Stade Jean-Bouin or its training facilities).
Uncertainty surrounding the club prompted players to look elsewhere. This summer, Hugo Bonneval and Raphael Lakafia left to join Toulon. Rabah Slimani joined Clermont. Pascal Pape and Julien Dupuy retired. Jeremy Sinzelle went to La Rochelle. Will Genia was released early from his contract to team up with Australia and, from 2018, Melbourne Rebels.
That spring and summer of discontent raised the confidence of rival clubs that they could tempt others away. Several have been hovering over centre Jonathan Danty, fly-half Jules Plisson, locks Paul Gabrillagues and Alexandre Flanquart, and hooker Rémi Bonfils – whose contracts are all up at the end of this season.
All five are especially attractive to French clubs right now due to tightening player quotas and a rediscovered desire among Top 14 clubs to be seen to be nuturing homegrown talent rather than bringing in overseas stars on lucrative pension plans.
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It is no secret that Toulon boss Boudjellal is a big fan of Danty, while Plisson has long been courted by numerous clubs – notably Racing, La Rochelle and Bordeaux.
But it seems those circling clubs will have to look elsewhere. RMC Sport reported this week that Danty, Gabrillagues and Bonfils will put pen to paper on new three-year deals this week. Meanwhile, Rugbyrama adds that there are just i’s to dot and t’s to cross on similar long-term contracts for Plisson and Flanquart.
The five-deal salvo is more than just a powerful hands off from Stade. It’s a statement of intent. Keeping key players now on multi-year deals puts the club in a much stronger position when negotiating with potential new arrivals. All that remains now is to tempt some headline names to Stade Jean-Bouin…
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“Over 80% of the World Cup squad are over 30” No it isn’t lol
1 Go to commentsTyrel Lomax the best AB prop since Carl Hayman. Absolutely destroyed the Boks in RWC Final and is monstering allcomers in Super this season. Should be a monster battle vs touring Poms, always deliver a power pack.
1 Go to commentsEye gouging seems like such a strong term for what can only be described as a poke in the eye. When I think of eye gouging I think of someone trying to intentionally pop someone’s eyeball out. it’s like calling a high-tackle attempted decapitation.
3 Go to commentsGreat article. No insights to add, just wanted to say that. :)
1 Go to commentsLeinster are going to win the world cup.
13 Go to commentsSuper Rugby desperately needs to lose at least 2, but up to 4 teams. Rebels quietly going bankrupt would have made that a bit easier. Teams like the Rebels and Force serve only to weaken Australian Rugby and Super Rugby more widely. In 13 years in the comp the Rebels are yet to win more games than they lose in a season, have never finished in the top half of the competition, and have come dead last a number of times. The Western Force, barring a brief stint of mediocrity under John Mitchell from 2007-2009 have been even worse. Sadly it’s hard to see a future for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Likewise I think the writing is on the wall for the Highlanders, it’s hard to see how NZ rugby can continue to support 5 SR teams, and population distribution suggests one team in the south island would make the most sense.
43 Go to commentsNice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
43 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
6 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
43 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
6 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
6 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
13 Go to comments