Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'I do not want to do paranoia but I was very annoyed after this salary cap story'

Jacky Lorenzetti believes his Racing 92 club gets shabbily treated by the French League's administrators (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Racing owner Jacky Lorenzetti believes there has been a negative attitude constantly shown towards his club by the French League ever since they made their way out of Pro D2 and into the Top 14 in 2009. 

ADVERTISEMENT

An investigation into alleged irregularities in the salary cap during the 2017/18 season is the latest negativity that the Parisian club has had to deal, a review that also includes Montpellier and Toulon. 

Racing claim they complied with everything that was asked of them, leaving Lorenzetti frustrated that a brand-damaging story was allowed to filter out into the public domain. 

In an in-depth interview with Midi Olympique, the bi-weekly French rugby newspaper, the club owner hit back at what he feels is a system that frequently looks upon Racing with a dismissive view.

“Racing was not pinned neither for irregularities nor for anything. Since the salary cap manager is in place, we have always met the standards imposed,” he insisted. 

“The salary cap manager simply taxes us for having been in bad faith when we submit certain documents to the file. He considers that we did not do it on time. It’s that simple.

“They [those documents] focused on the vehicles and accommodations made available by the club. The information was given… we were a little annoyed by what we consider fierce against the Racing entity on the part of the system. 

ADVERTISEMENT

“We are a Parisian club, we are supposed to be rich, we have all the faults of the land… I remember that Racing had already been the object of ostracism, there is no other word, when the club rose out of the second division. 

“Suddenly, the league decided that there would be no more climbing bonus. We still talk about €350,000, it’s not nothing! 

“Later, Laurent Labit has twice fine €50,000 euros for inappropriate remarks. Ronan O’Gara? He also received a penalty of €30,000. And in the appeal commission of the FFR, we never had a reduction of a sentence!

“I do not want to do paranoia but I was very annoyed after this salary cap story. Without dragging their feet, we took a long time to gather the pieces and send them in a time that is considered reasonable. We answered the questions, we played the game, we will now see what the verdict is.”

ADVERTISEMENT
Jacky Lorenzetti
Racing owner Jacky Lorenzetti

Racing, who won the French title in 2016, were knocked out in the quarter-finals last season at home to La Rochelle, but it’s a disappointment Lorenzetti hasn’t dwelt too long on. 

“Last season was disappointing but Racing is the only club in the championship that has never left the wagon of the six qualifiers since our rise in Top 14 in 2009. Every year, we are in the finals. Clermont did not do it, Toulouse did not do it, Toulon did not do it. And how long has Stade Francais been running behind the qualifiers?

“Victory, titles, is our adrenaline. We are not at Racing to play rugby. We are at Racing to win. The problem is that the other 13 clubs in the Top 14 have exactly the same ambition.”

Rugby has always been about the sport for Lorenzetti, not making money, an approach that found him at odds when he recently met some key figures of the new Major League Rugby concept in America.

“I came to the sport for sport. I’m not here for business. Recently, I visited the leaders of American rugby. During the conversation, I talked to them about sport and they said to me: ‘No, we talk business, Mr Lorenzetti! We are here to make money!’

“It’s not my thing. I’m an entrepreneur. I make my living making real estate, wine and now concerts. Sport is not about making money and if rugby gets there one day, I do not know if it will always interest me. I can’t imagine, for example, a closed league that would leave Grenoble or Biarritz at the door. I do not want anyone to forbid Béziers, Narbonne and Perpignan to dream.

“Our championship is exceptional, unheard: 10 teams fight each year for the title! Where do we see that? In football, the suspense is cooked after three days.”

WATCH: Part one of the two-part RugbyPass documentary on what the fans can expect to experience at the World Cup in Japan

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

O2 Inside Line: All In | Episode 5 | Making Waves

Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Tackling reasons for drop-out in sport | Zainab Alema | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Krakow | Leg 3 | Day 2 | HSBC Challenger Series | Full Day Replay

Kubota Spears vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry? | New Zealand & Australia | Sevens Wonders | Episode 5

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

E
Eliza Galloway 36 minutes ago
Geoff Parling: An Englishman roasting the Lions?

Email: prowizardgilbertrecovery(@)  engineer.comWhatsApp: +1 (920) 408‑1234Telegram: https://t.me/Pro_Wizard_Gilbert_RecoveryI never imagined I’d become a victim of a scam—especially in the fast-moving world of cryptocurrency. When I was offered a chance to appear on a popular crypto podcast, I was excited. It seemed like a golden opportunity to gain exposure, connect with industry professionals, and build credibility within the crypto community. The podcast appeared legitimate, complete with a sleek website, professional branding, glowing testimonials, and an active social media presence.After a few exchanges with the supposed host, I was asked to pay $9,500 to secure my spot on the show. Trusting the apparent professionalism of the platform, I went ahead with the payment. I envisioned the new doors this would open—partnerships, recognition, and new opportunities. But everything changed once the payment was made.Suddenly, all communication stopped. My emails and messages went unanswered. The podcast’s website vanished, and so did their social media presence. That’s when reality hit—I had been scammed.I was devastated. Angry, embarrassed, and desperate to find a solution, I began searching for help. That’s when I discovered PRO WIZARD GILBERT RECOVERY. At first, I was skeptical, but with nothing left to lose, I decided to reach out.To my surprise, their team responded quickly and took my case seriously. Using advanced investigative tools and digital tracking techniques, they began tracing the scammer’s digital footprint. I watched as they worked tirelessly, putting the pieces together.Amazingly, PRO WIZARD GILBERT RECOVERY was able to recover 95% of my lost funds. The relief I felt was indescribable. Not only did I get back most of what I lost, but I also walked away with a hard-earned lesson about the importance of due diligence and caution in the digital world.While I wish I had never fallen into the trap, I’m incredibly thankful for the support and professionalism of PRO WIZARD GILBERT RECOVERY. They didn’t just recover my money—they helped restore my peace of mind. I’m sharing my story in hopes that it helps others avoid the same mistake and encourages them to stay vigilant in the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency.

44 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
James O'Connor, the Lions and the great club v country conundrum

Lol you need to shoot your editor for that headline, even I near skipped the article.


France simply need to go to a league format for the Brennus, that will shave two weekends of pointless knockout rugby from their season and raise the competitions standards and mystique no end.


The under age loophole is also a easy door to shut, just remove the lower age limit. WR simply never envisioned a day were teams would target people under the age of 17 or whatever it is now, but much like with Rassie and his use of subs bench, that day was obviously always going to come. I can’t remember how football does it, I think it’s the other way around with them, you can’t sign anyone younger than that but unions can’t stop 17 or 18 yo’s from leaving for a pro club if they want to. There is a transaction that takes place of a few hundred thousand for a normal average player. I’d prefer rugby to be stricter and just keep the union bodies signoff being required.


What really was their problem with Kite and co leaving though? Do we really need a game dominated by Internationals? I even think WR’s proposed calendar might be a bit too much, with at minimum 12 top tier games being played in the World Championship. I think 10 to 12, maybe any one player playing 10 of those 12 is the best way to think of it, for every international team is max, so that they can allow their domestic comps to shine if they want, and other nations like Japan and Fiji can, even some of the home nations maybe, and fill out their calendar with extra tours if they like them as a way to make money. As it is RA don’t have as good a pathway system, so they could simply buy back those players if they turn good. Are they worried they’ll be less likely to? We wait for baited breath for the new season to be laid out in front of us by WR.

It could impose sanctions on the Fédération Française de Rugby, but the body which runs the Top 14 and the ProD2, the Ligue Nationale de Rugby, is entirely independent.

It’s not independent at all. The LNR is a body under, and commissioned by, the FFR (and Government control) to mediate the clubs. FFR can simply install a new club competition if they don’t listen, then you’d see whether the players want to stay at any club who doesn’t tow the line and move to the new competition, as they obviously wouldn’t fall under the auspice of world rugby. They would be rebels, which is fine in and upon itself, but they would isolate themselves from the rest of the game and would need to be OK with that. I have no doubt whatsoever that clubs would have to and want to fall in line to remain part of the EPCR and French rugby. Probably even the last thing they would want is to compete with another French domestic competition that has all the advantages they don’t.


All those players would do good for a few seasons in France, especially the fringe ones, with thankfully zero risk of them being poached if they turn good. New Zealand had a turn at keeping all of it’s talent, and while it upticked the competitiveness of the Super Rugby teams into a total dominance of Australian and South African counterparts (who were suffering more heavily than most the other way at that stage), it didn’t have as positive an effect on the next step up as ensuring young talents development is not hindered does. Essentially NZR flooded the locate market with players but inevitably it didn’t think the local economy could sustain any more pro teams itself, so now we are seeing a normal amount of exodus for the availability of places again. Are Australia in exactly the same footing? I think so, finances where dicey for a while perhaps but I doubt they are putting money constraints on their contracting now. It’s purely about who leaves to open up opportunity.

58 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Brian O'Driscoll the latest name to back 'brilliant fit' Lions bolter Brian O'Driscoll the latest name to back 'brilliant fit' Lions bolter
Search