PARIS: A planned merger between Parisian rugby powerhouses Racing 92 and Stade Francais has been cancelled amid strong opposition, Racing 92 president Jacky Lorenzetti said on Sunday.

"I have decided to give this beautiful project up," Lorenzetti said in a statement.

Stade Francais players began an open-ended strike last week, denouncing what they called a takeover in disguise, while the French federation and the Paris mayor also opposed the merger. </s> A planned merger between Parisian rugby powerhouses Racing 92 and Stade Francais looks set to be cancelled amid strong opposition, the Racing 92 president Jacky Lorenzetti said on Sunday.

“I have decided to give this beautiful project up,” Lorenzetti said in a statement.

Stade Francais players began an open-ended strike last week, denouncing what they called a takeover in disguise, while the French federation and the Paris mayor also opposed the merger.
• This is a breaking news story … more to follow </s> PARIS (AP) - French powerhouses Racing 92 and Stade Francais are planning to merge from next season to create a rugby superclub in Paris.

Both clubs announced the planned move on Monday in a joint statement headlined "Stronger Together!"

Racing 92 are the reigning French champions and both clubs play in the top-tier Top 14 championship. They won the inaugural French titles in 1892 and 1893 and have claimed 20 titles together.

The clubs said their association "must give birth to a new club that will preserve the roots of Racing 92 and those of the Stade Francais Paris."

Stade Francais lock Pascal Pape expressed his discontent on Twitter, writing "my sadness is so big that I prefer not to comment."

The merger will need to be ratified by French rugby authorities. </s> A proposed merger between top French sides Racing 92 and Stade Francais has been called off.

The clubs, who are based in Paris and play in the Top 14 league, announced their intention to merge six days ago.

However, on Sunday, Racing 92 president Jacky Lorenzetti said in a statement: "I have decided to give this beautiful project up."

Stade Francais players began an open-ended strike last week, denouncing what they deemed a takeover in disguise.

They refused to train or play against Castres this weekend, forcing Saturday's game to be postponed, while the French league also called off Racing's game against Montpellier.

"I heard and understood the strong reservations expressed in response to this project," added Lorenzetti.

"In any case, the social, political, cultural, human, and sporting conditions were not in place. Perhaps we had the right plan too soon, only the future will tell."

Lorenzetti and Stade president Thomas Savare sparked protests from fans and club officials with their announcement on 13 March.

Players and supporters from both clubs were taken by surprise by the initial announcement, with Stade centre Jonathan Danty saying he and his French team-mates thought it was "a joke". </s> PARIS (AP) — Stade Francais and Racing 92 won’t finally join forces to create a super rugby club in the Paris region.

Facing strong opposition from fans and players, both clubs’ presidents decided to scrap their planned merger.

Racing 92 President Jacky Lorenzetti said on the club’s website he “gave up on the merger with the Stade Francais Paris, in agreement with Thomas Savare,” the Stade Francais boss.

Their plan, which aimed to create a superclub of the best local talent in the Paris region capable of attracting the best foreign players, proved to be a hugely divisive move. It was welcomed by the French league but earned the disapproval of the French Rugby Federation.

Earlier this week, representatives from both clubs met with League president Paul Goze and all parties, including some players and coaches, were set to meet again on Monday for further discussions. Goze was also expected to talk about the issue with French federation President Bernard Laporte on Monday.

Stade Francais players had announced they would go on strike in protest, and the league decided to postpone both clubs’ weekend games “to give dialogue a chance.”

Racing 92 is the reigning French champion and both clubs play in the top-tier Top 14 championship. The teams won the inaugural French titles — Racing in 1892 and Stade Francais in 1893 — and have claimed 20 titles between them.

New Zealand great Dan Carter plays for Racing 92 and the flyhalf also helped the club reach the European Cup final last season, where it lost to English side Saracens. </s> A proposed merger between Top 14 rivals Racing 92 and Stade Francais has been called off following a fierce backlash against the plans.

An arrangement to bring the two Paris clubs together was revealed last week in a move that stunned the rugby world.

Fans and players of the two teams voiced their concerns at the proposals which were outlined by presidents Jacky Lorenzetti and Thomas Savare.

Following protests, strike action and the postponement of the clubs' league fixtures, it has been decided that the merger will no longer go ahead.

"I heard the emotion, the surprise and the misunderstanding of the supporters, the players and the members of our association," said Stade Francais chief Savare.

"I also heard their deep attachment to the independence of Stade Francais, this attachment coming above all other considerations.

"So we have decided, in agreement with Jacky Lorenzetti, to put an end to this proposed merger."

Racing president Lorenzetti added in a statement: "I have decided to give up this beautiful project. I did not expect such resistance, especially internally!

"Maybe we were right too soon. The future will tell us.

"I want to tell the big rugby family, the loyal partners of Racing 92, the supporters, the players, the sports and administrative staff of the two teams… it was not my intention to oppose one part of the family against the other.

"The future of Stade Francais will be written without us, and I sincerely wish them all the best having come to know them more closely." </s> Racing 92 and Stade Francais have announced that their proposed merger is off.

The two French powerhouses shocked the rugby world last week when they revealed plans to pool their resources from next term and form a Top 14 Paris super club.

However, the controversial move has now been called off, with Racing chief Jacky Lorenzetti saying: “I have decided to give up this beautiful project.”

The planned merger has courted criticism since last Monday’s announcement, which stunned players from both clubs, including those on international duty with France. On Wednesday Stade’s squad went on an ‘open-ended strike’, before later in the week staging a protest alongside supporters outside the headquarters of the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) in Paris.

The fall-out continued on Friday when both of the clubs’ respective Top 14 fixtures scheduled for this weekend were postponed. However, with further talks between Top 14 champions Racing and Stade having initially been scheduled for Monday, the two clubs announced on Sunday that the merger would no longer be happening.

Lorenzetti, whose club has the likes ex-All Blacks star Dan Carter on its books, said on the Racing website: “In agreement with (Stade president) Thomas Savare, the merger will not take place.

“We decided to bring Stade Francais Paris and Racing 92 together to create a great Ile-de-France club of tomorrow and ensure it of a long-lasting and brilliant future. I have decided to give up this beautiful project.”

Lorenzetti said that he had “heard and understood the strong reservations” raised by the plans but felt the majority would be in favour and that the advantages would outweigh the negatives. He also said that he “did not expect such resistance, especially internally!”

Stade also confirmed in a statement on their website that the merger was no longer taking place. Club president Savare said: “I heard the emotion, the surprise and the misunderstanding of the supporters, the players and the members of our association.

“I also heard their deep attachment to the independence of Stade Francais Paris, this attachment going before all other considerations. So we decided, in agreement with Jacky Lorenzetti, to put an end to this proposed merger.” </s> French giants Racing 92 and Stade Francais will merge next season.

Bosses at Racing 92 have confirmed the merger of the Top 14 pair, that both clubs expect to be ratified by league chiefs.

The two Parisian clubs boast strong history, tradition and potent resources, but Stade president Thomas Savare and Racing chief Jacky Lorenzetti believe the two entities are now best served pooling resources.

France’s Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) is expected to rubber-stamp the move, with an extra place in next season’s division to be filled either via a play-off or offering another promotion spot from the second-tier ProD2.

“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,” Racing announced in a club statement.

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

“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 while multiplying the means put at the service of youth and French rugby.

“Consolidated by its dual culture, by the fierce determination of its two 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.”

Former Ireland outhalf Ronan O’Gara is currently the defence coach at Racing. </s> Racing 92 and Stade Francais are to be merged into one club from next season, the two sides have announced on Monday morning, triggering a radical shake-up of the Top 14 that is likely to produce a Parisian ‘super club’ containing the likes of Dan Carter and Sergio Parisse.

The news was revealed in a statement on the Racing 92 website that was headlined “Stronger together” in which it confirmed that the two Parisian rivals will become one club from the start of the 2017/18 season, subject to ratification from French league chiefs.

Racing president Jacky Lorenzetti and Stade president Thomas Savare have concluded talks to bring the two top tier clubs together by “pooling resources” in order to compete with the likes of Toulon and Clermont Auverge.

A joint-statement read: "Winners of the first two titles in the history of French rugby in 1892 and 1893, Racing 92 and Stade Francais Paris have also won the Brennus Shield in the last two seasons.

“These two flagship clubs of Paris, beyond the sporting rivalry they have enjoyed, have many other similarities: a strong local and regional presence, a historic coaching program, age-old ties with The Olympic movement and an incessant desire to progress in all areas.

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

“This merger, effective from next season, must give birth to a new club that will preserve the roots of Racing 92 and those of the Stade Français Paris, while increasing the resources available to serve youth and French rugby.

“Consolidated by its twin culture, the fierce determination of its two presidents and its increased audience in a population pool unrivaled in France, this new club has a long-term goal to build a true giant day after day."

The merger will create an additional space in the Top 14, which if approved by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby [LNR] will see the berth filled either by a play-off in the second tier ProD2 or by offering the spot to the next best-placed team in the division.
Racing 92 and Stade Français, two French rugby clubs, announce that they are calling off their proposed merger following widespread opposition to the project.