The merger between Parisian Top14 sides Stade Français and Racing 92, announced last Monday, is “already ancient history” as Racing 92 President Jacky Lorenzetti announced in a press release that the plan “will not go through,” according to L’ÉQUIPE. Lorenzetti said, “I’ve decided to abandon this great project. … I’ve heard and understood the strong reservations raised by this beautiful project of unity. In any case, the social, political, cultural, human and sporting conditions were not fulfilled. Perhaps we had the right plan too soon, the future will tell” (L’ÉQUIPE, 3/19). The London TELEGRAPH reported the planned merger "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 French National Rugby League (LNR) HQ in Paris. The "fall-out" continued on Friday when both of the clubs' respective Top14 fixtures scheduled for the weekend were postponed (TELEGRAPH, 3/19).
