Absolutely crazy news from the megabucks world of French rugby this morning as Racing Metro and Stade Francais have announced they will merge into one super Paris club next season.
L'Equipe broke the news this morning and Racing have confirmed it with a statement.
Plus forts ensemble ! Communiqué du @racing92 : https://t.co/vVLZ3lcwL1 pic.twitter.com/pz1bQfqdVE
— Racing 92 (@racing92) March 13, 2017
Racing are the reigning Top 14 champions but have been a disaster this season with the shock retirement of Johan Goosen and the cocaine arrests of Ali Williams and James O'Connor
Stade won the Top 14 two season ago but sit in 11th place in the league table and are nothing like the club that was truly fearsome in the late 90s-early 2000s.
The clubs enjoy tremendous history having won the first two French titles and the last two.
Holy merde
Racing and Stade to merge— Paul Williams (@thepaulwilliams) March 13, 2017
Some obvious questions:
- What will this mean for Ronan O'Gara? ROG seemed frustrated with Racing after the Munster defeat in January.
- What will the club be called?
- What will the jerseys look like? Stade and Racing have two of the most recognisable kits in the club rugby. How will they find a balance between the garish Stade kit and the refined blue hoops of Racing
- How will it effect promotion/relegation in France?
- Will their social media accounts merge?
OK. Racing-Stade merger shock has settled slightly. Their fans hate eachother? Which stadium? Will they wear pink? All the big questions!
— Andrew Binner (@AndrewBinner) March 13, 2017
pink shorts, duck-egg blue and white striped shirt. Racing Francais, or Stade 92?
— Dan Weasel (@dan_weasel) March 13, 2017
