Racing 92

History of Racing 92

Racing 92 has a long and complicated history. However, the team has existed in some form since 1890. 

Interestingly, Racing Métro 92 actually won the first ever edition of the French Championship in 1892. They then went on to win further titles in 1900, 1902, 1959 and 1990. 

However, the modern day version of the club was formed in 2001, when the rugby section of Racing Club de France merged with the rugby section of US Métro to form Métro Racing 92. In 2005, the team was renamed to Racing Métro 92. However, at the end of the 2014-15 season, the name was officially shortened to Racing 92.

When Racing 92 first formed, the team initially struggled to compete in the professional era of French rugby. However, in 2006, president Jacky Lorenzetti set ambitious goals for the club. He hoped to take Racing 92 into the Top 14 (the top division of French rugby) within two years and into the European Rugby Champions Cup (then known as the Heineken Cup) by 2011.

Fast forward a couple of decades and Racing 92 are now a powerhouse of French rugby. Although they missed their Top 14 target by one year, they qualified for the Heineken Cup (now the European Rugby Champions Cup) in 2010-11 and they've never looked back. 

Since they entered the Top 14 in 2009, the side has never been relegated. They even won the competition in 2016. Plus, they have reached the final of the Heineken Cup (now the European Rugby Champions Cup) three times. 

In the past couple of decades, several stars of the game have been included in the Racing 92 squad, including the likes of former England captain Owen Farrell and South Africa skipper Siya Kolisi. 

Think Racing 92 will win the Top 14 this year? Or will the team finally capture the European Rugby Champions Cup? Follow their progress with RugbyPass.