The French rugby (union) league (LNR) has called an emergency meeting for Friday following the announcement of a strike by Stade Francais players, including Australian halfback Will Genia, to protest a proposed merger with Paris rivals Racing 92.
“The National Rugby League is proposing an emergency meeting between the two sports companies, the associations and representatives of the players and coaches on Friday, March 17,” the LNR said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The LNR is calling for dialogue and will monitor very closely this unprecedented matter in the history of French rugby.”
The clubs announced the surprise merger on Monday and a day later, players’ union chief Robins Tchale-Watchou said Stade Francais players were starting an “open-ended strike”, ruling out Saturday’s trip to Castres for a Top 14 match.
According to LNR regulations, Stade Francais will be docked two points while Castres be awarded five, with the threat of relegation looming over the Parisian side if they forfeited three games.
The merger has also split opinion among the authorities with the LNR saying it was in favour of the move while the French federation said it was “shocked” by the proposal.
Racing reached the final of Europe’s Champions Cup last season while Stade Francais were finalists in 2001 and 2005.
The Racing squad features Dan Carter, a world champion with New Zealand’s All Blacks, and the club presidents believe that a combination of internationals from each side would give birth to a European power.
davSA
Guest
Strange thing about these mergers as we have seen in SA with the Cheetahs and Lions in the past is that its not just a merger of two teams but of two distinct rugby cultures and playing styles. The sum of the parts does not always make a whole.
Old Bugger
Guest
Well obviously, the French Connection, is simply following what's happening down-under within SANZAAR - "What's good for the Goose, is good for the Gander", except down-under, the likelihood is total dis-enfranchisement without any prospect, of mergers.
sheek
Roar Guru
This is extraordinary. Extraordinarily selfish by those proposing this merger. It will no doubt benefit the owners & their cronies & sponsors. But short-sightedly bad for French & world rugby. Reducing Paris from two clubs to one in Top 14 is just dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb.
The Battered Slav
Guest
Aus sides need to strike to support their hard done by Brumbies brothers. Take a leaf out of the Frenchies book. Say what you want about the French with your hackneyed vichy surrender monkey jokes, but in all seriousness they seem not to take crap from authority when things go pear shaped for them, why should we? RUPA needs to get in there and fight too. Isn't that what unions are supposed to do? Represent the interests of their members? Well, a significant number of your members are getting kicked in the guts, please show some fight on their behalf. Nobody with a stake in this should be sitting around in passive acceptance of this travesty.