The strained relationship that led to Sergio Parisse's split with his beloved Stade Francais
Sergio Parisse took to Twitter to thank Stade Francais for giving him the chance of playing for the French Top 14 club for 14 seasons.
However, beneath the seemingly amicable parting lies a story of a fast-deteriorating relationship which resulted in the Italian talisman quitting the club a year before his contract was due to expire in 2020.
Stade Francais was in its Max Guazzini pomp and cermony heyday when Parisse first came on board in June 2005 and it was notable how the 35-year-old Italian forward included the former Stade owner in his social media sign-off while at the same time making no mention of the current regime.
He wrote: “Thank you, Max. Thank you to the players, friends, brothers. Thank you to the fans and all those who have contributed to making this incredible love story possible!! Thank you Paris!!”
Parisse’s message had followed a brief statement by the club confirming that they are to go their separate ways. “Stade Francais and Sergio Parisse have decided by mutual agreement to put an end to the contract that binds them,” it read.
Merci Max, merci aux joueurs/amis/frères, merci aux supporters et à tous ceux et celles qui ont contribué à rendre cette incroyable histoire d’amour possible!! Merci Paris!! ????????? pic.twitter.com/4Ysxw9Ogsy
— sergio parisse (@sergioparisse) June 28, 2019
“Sergio Parisse wishes good luck and a lot of success at the Stade Francais. Stade Francais thanks its captain for 15 years of success in Parisian colours.”
What gives? According to French newspaper L’Equipe, Stade were concerned that the player who won two league titles was no longer the great he once was. Calf and knee injuries had restricted his availability to just 11 of Stade’s 26 Top 14 matches this past season.
This lay-off wasn’t helped by an alleged undercurrent of dissatisfaction on Parisse’s part with how the club was being run under that baton of South African coach Heyneke Meyer.
?Communiqué officiel – Vendredi 28 juin 2019#SFParis
— Stade Français Paris (@SFParisRugby) June 28, 2019
Parisse’s friend Julien Dupuy was dismissed from Meyer’s staff in January. Then Stade revealed they wanted Parisse to stop playing at the end of the 2018/19 season and instead join their management staff for next season.
This was a ploy aimed at getting the costly Parisse off their salary cap, as coaches’ wages are not included, but this plan backfired when the Italian decided not to accept their offer.
Then in May, it is alleged that prior to the league derby versus Parisian rivals Racing, Parisse told owner Hans-Pieter Wild what he felt were some home truths about the German’s running of the club.
@sergioparisse…j’avais imaginé un hommage immense à la hauteur de ton amour pour ce club et de ta classe sur le terrain et en dehors! Je mesure la chance d’avoir eu à mes côtés l’exceptionnel et unique joueur, mais surtout l’ami que tu es et que tu resteras #lafamille ? pic.twitter.com/Fk1zvwnuiv
— Pierre Rabadan (@PierreRabadan) June 28, 2019
The fall-out now sees Parisse become the third big name to exit Stade in recent weeks. Alexandre Flanquart was released from his contract and allowed to join Bordeaux, while Djibril Camara was sacked for alleged gross misconduct before signing for Bayonne.
Now, Parisse has departed. He will be free to fully concentrate on preparations for Italy’s World Cup campaign in Japan later this year where they are drawn in a pool with New Zealand and South Africa.
However, it is unclear if the veteran intends to fully quit the game following the finals or line up a different club.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzQlU2bADKA/
Parisse spent a number of seasons playing for Treviso before signing for Stade 14 years ago and a return to the Italians would surely be an attractive development for their profile following a season where they qualified for the PRO14 knockout stages for the first time and secured Champions Cup qualification.
In the meantime, what is clear is that Friday was a dramatic day at Stade’s training centre. Parisse had attended in the morning for an individual gym session, yet by the afternoon the club had released a six-line statement to signal his sudden departure. Quite an ending after 14 years.
WATCH: Episode four of the RugbyPass Rugby Explorer series where Jim Hamilton treks through Italian rugby and spends time in Treviso
Comments on RugbyPass
Except for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to comments