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Top 14 two to become one in Paris as Racing 92 and Stade Francais announce merger plans

Racing 92 president Jacky Lorenzetti (L) and Stade Francais' president Thomas Savare

The Top 14’s two Paris-based sides, Stade Francais and Racing 92, are to merge from next season, it has been announced.

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In a statement released simultaneously on the two clubs’ websites, the Top 14’s last two title holders said that the merger will take effect from next season, pending approval from the Ligue National de Rugby, which runs the Top 14.

Meanwhile, the spare Top 14 place left by the clubs’ merger could be resolved with a play-off between the side that finishes 13th in the Top 14 and the team that loses the ProD2 play-off final, it has been suggested.

“Winners of the first two championships in the history of French rugby in 1892 and 1893, Racing 92 and Stade Francais Paris also won the Bouclier de Brennus in the last two seasons,” the clubs announced in a joint statement.

“These flagship clubs of Paris and the Hauts de Seine, beyond the sporting rivalry they have enjoyed, have many similarities: a strong local and regional heritage, a historic educational mission, ancestral ties with the Olympic movement and an inextinguishable will to progress in all areas.

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“It is on the basis of these principles that the two clubs lay the foundations for a merger project by pooling their resources to better cope with the challenges of performance and education.

“This association, effective from next season, must give birth to a new club that will preserve the roots of Racing 92 and those of the Stade Francais Paris.

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“Consolidated by its dual culture, by the fierce determination of its presidents and its increased audience in a population pool unmatched in France, this new club has a long-term commitment to build a true reference day after day.”

Meanwhile, in an email to Racing 92 season ticket-holders, club president Lorenzetti told fans that, despite the two clubs’ recent domestic successes, “it has been very difficult to maintain that level of performance year after year.”

The same email indicates that Racing coaches Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers will take the coaching reins at the new club. Stade’s Gonzalo Quesada has previously revealed that he will leave Stade Jean Bouin at the end of the season.

The news comes as the two clubs struggle to cope with the aftermaths of their recent Top 14 successes.

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Stade finish 12th in the Top 14 the season after they were crowned Top 14 champions, and – with 40 points – occupy the same position heading into the final six games of the regular season. They are 13 points above Grenoble, in the first of the relegation places.

Defending champions Racing, meanwhile, are seventh in the table with 45 points, six adrift of the play-off places.

Club presidents Jacky Lorenzetti, of Racing, and Thomas Savare, of Stade Francais, were due to hold a press conference at 4pm France time on Monday, March 13, when questions concerning where the new Parisian side will play may be answered. Racing 92 were due to be installed in their new (and much-delayed) 32,000-seat U Arena stadium midway through this season, but the venue is expected to be available in time for the start of the next campaign.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 3 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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