A planned merger between the Parisian rugby powerhouses Racing 92 and Stade Français 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 Français 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.
“I have heard and understood the reservations … the social, human, sporting conditions are not met. Perhaps we were right too soon,” Lorenzetti said. “The future of Stade Français will be written without us and I wish them the best.”
The Stade Français president, Thomas Savare, has said that he does not have the cash to keep the 14-times French champions afloat.
“We now have to build the future of this club in a collegial way,” the head of the players’ union and former Stade player Robins Tchale Watchou told Reuters.
After Stade Français’s players went on strike on Tuesday, the French League postponed games featuring the two Paris clubs this weekend, having met team representatives on Friday.
Another meeting was also scheduled for Monday with the LNR president, Paul Goze, and the French federation president, Bernard Laporte, also due to meet in the evening.