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Two France internationals among 7 Racing 92 signings before new season

Romain Taofifenua of France looks on after the Guinness Six Nations 2024 match between France and Italy at Stade Pierre Mauroy on February 25, 2024 in Lille, France. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Racing 92 have confirmed the deals for France loosehead prop Demba Bamba and lock Romain Taofifénua from Lyon ahead of next season.

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The French pair are two of seven signings for Stuart Lancaster’s side ahead of the new season, which begins in September, one of which is his son Dan from Championship winners Ealing Trailfinders.

Lancaster is not the only Englishman heading over the Channel this summer, as Sale Sharks centre Sam James has also signed for the Parisian outfit alongside former England captain Owen Farrell, who is probably the biggest transfer in world rugby during this offseason.

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The final two moves will see Chile hooker Diego Escobar arrive at La Defense Arena, as well as Stormers flanker Hacjivah Dayimani reuniting with his compatriot Siya Kolisi in the back row.

These moves had been reported gradually over recent weeks, but have been finalised by the club.

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Argentina
13 - 28
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France
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They also confirmed the list of players who have left the club, writing on their website: “At the end of this 2023/2024 season, Racing 92 warmly thanks all the players and staff members who are leaving the club. We thank them for their involvement and team spirit under the sky and white jersey and wish them much success in the rest of their sporting and professional careers.

“Thanks to Juan Imhoff, Wenceslas Lauret, Bernard le Roux, Cedate Gomes Sa, Baptiste Chouzenoux, Olivier Klemenczak, Anthime Hemery, Francis Saili, Kitione Kamikamica, Trevor Nykane, Peniami Narista, Veikoso Poloniati, Christian Wade, James Hall, Anthony Marhuenda and Yannick Nyanga.

Racing finished the Top 14 season in sixth place, and fell at the first hurdle in the knockout stages against eventual finalists Bordeaux-Begles in the quarter-finals.

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c
cw 6 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Thanks JW for clarifying your point and totally agree. The ABs are still trying to find their mojo” - that spark of power that binds and defines them. Man the Boks certainly found theirs in Wellington! But I think it cannot be far off for ABs - my comment about two coaches was a bit glib. The key point for me is that they need first a coach or coaches that can unlock that power and for me that starts at getting the set piece right and especially the scrum and second a coach that can simplify the game plans. I am fortified in this view by NBs comment that most of the ABs tries come from the scrum or lineout - this is the structured power game we have been seeing all year. But it cannot work while the scrum is backpeddling. That has to be fixed ASAP if Robertson is going to stick to this formula. I also think it is too late in the cycle to reverse course and revert to a game based on speed and continuity. The second is just as important - keep it simple! Complex movements that require 196 cm 144 kg props to run around like 95kg flankers is never going to work over a sustained period. The 2024 Blues showed what a powerful yet simple formula can do. The 2025 Blues, with Beauden at 10 tried to be more expansive / complicated - and struggled for most of the season.

I also think that the split bench needs to reflect the game they “want” to play not follow some rote formula. For example the ABs impact bench has the biggest front row in the World with two props 195cm / 140 kg plus. But that bulk cannot succeed without the right power based second row (7, 4, 5, 6). That bulk becomes a disadvantage if they don’t have a rock solid base behind them - as both Boks showed at Eden Park and the English in London. Fresh powerful legs need to come on with them - thats why we need a 6-2 bench. And teams with this split can have players focused only on 40 minutes max of super high intensity play. Hence Robertson needs to design his team to accord with these basic physics.



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