Top 14 and Premiership

St Placide wrote: I can imagine the my local authority, which recently spent EUR 110 million on a new stadium for Stade, will be too happy, nor will the players union.

Any chance we can move it over to the docks? I presume at that price it can fly ...

It appears to be a straightforward takeover of Stade as their sugardaddy wants out. Les Deux Laurents will be the coaches and the team will play in Arena 92 (a 2nd division soccer club called Red Star is taking over the Stade stadium). Lorenzetti says the retention of players will be based on merit, youth, and loyalty to the project.

So I'm guessing Stade lock Paul Gabrillagues won't be joining Nu-Racing RacingClubDeStadeFrancais:
"It is not a merger, it is the acquisition of Stade Francais by Le Racing ... so the death of our club, the club of Paris. I would not participate in this masquerade. Show yourself and show that we are many that love this club."

It's a municipal stadium so Red Star, who already play at Jean Bouin before crowds of three and four thousand, won't be taking over anything.

Players were told about the plans by their respective presidents this morning and asked not to comment on social media before 16.00. Some of the Stade players walked out and the squad is meeting this afternoon to discuss the possiblilty of a strike or some kind of action next weekend.

In the Paris derby in late April, Stade might have the opportunity to knock themselves out of Europe. That should be an interesting encounter ...

It is truly shocking that a signing rumour hasn't been confirmed alright ...
Murray K did confirm he was contracted til 2019 when he "announced" it so it's reasonable to assume his release would be contingent on relegation. Even with potentially only one team going down, Grenoble could be in a dogfight with Bayonne for 13th - the Basques could make a dent in their 5 point deficit at home to Bordeaux at the weekend while Grenoble are hosting Toulon. I wouldn't be surprised if any transfer decisions are put on ice until there is more clarity. FFR not happy. Players not happy, and the fans - well they might be on to us for advice on how not to get disbanded. There will be a few twists in this tale yet.

On the playoff front, Pau's win over Castres has them up to 4th, which sees the bookies moving them ahead of Toulouse and Bordeaux in the odds, so they are now 7th, right in the sweet spot.
4 points between 7 and 11 though.

There was a supporter’s protest meeting at Stade last night.. All players and staff, with the exception of the head coaches, were present. The players are very angry and upset. Pascal Papé, club ligind © and enforcer, addressed the gathering and promised to die with a gun in his hands if he has to! I believe him.

Approximately 45 players from both clubs will lose their jobs at a time when most Top 14 clubs have already finalised the bulk of their squads for next year. Obviously academy players, club coaching staff and employees are also going to lose their jobs.The Mairie of Paris, owners of Stade Jean Bouin, is also on the war path having been kept out of the discussion.

It’s also worth remembering that both Stade and Racing are elements of vast sports clubs with large infrastructure and huge membership across the west of Paris and beyond. Professional rugby is only a small part of the clubs but the best known beyond France. Both clubs have separate underage and adult rugby set-ups, which will continue as they are.

Ultimately though, for the presidents of the clubs, both of whom have little background in rugby, business is business. Racing has a big new stadium and no fans while Stade has a president who wants to cut costs.

The Stade Francais players announced a few moments ago that they won't be playing this weekend against Castres.

"Les joueurs du Stade français ont décidé de ne pas disputer le match à Castres samedi pour le compte de la 21e journée de Top 14 !"

I was wondering why the bookies weren't taking bets on that match!
Castres are one of the teams Racing would be targeting to overhaul to get into the barrages/Europe.
Stade players should be well rested by the time the derby comes around ...

Racing and Stade's matches this weekend have been postponed it seems. Mourad Boudjellal not happy.

pinky wrote: Racing and Stade's matches this weekend have been postponed it seems. Mourad Boudjellal not happy.

To be fair, that man is never happy! On the other hand, and despite his sarcastic comments over the past few days, Toulon is the only Top 14 club to speak out on behalf of the Stade/Racing players.