Stade Français players, led in protest by Pascal Papé, have vowed to fight against the impending merger of their club with bitter-rivals Racing.
When the news of the merger between Stade and Racing broke on Monday afternoon, it sent shockwaves through the French rugby, and in fact European rugby, community.
The two clubs' presidents, Jacky Lorenzetti (Racing) and Thomas Savare (Stade) dropped the bombshell at a press conference, saying the aim is to form one super-club in Paris.
However, players from Stade Français, who only found out about the merger mere hours before the official announcement, have not taken kindly to the news. They believe the proposed merger is more of a takeover of Stade Francais by the super rich Racing.
Papé and several of his teammates took to social media to urge Stade supporters to join them at the club's home ground on Monday evening, where they discussed the possibility of going on strike before their league match against Castres on Saturday.
Stade's players were so taken aback by the latest developments that centre Jonathan Danty and wing Djibril Camara asked to be released from the France squad to allow them to join their protesting teammates.
'Today we do not know what to say. We have to show that Stade Français is a family, it is not someone who is married to anyone, it is not a decision one takes alone or in pairs. It’s a family decision. And today, the family has not been consulted,' Papé, surrounded by teammates, told the media at the stadium. 'This is a very bad decision. I respect Thomas Savare enormously but today he disappoints me by his behaviour which is far from human.'
'If we must die with arms in hand, I shall die with arms in my hand. Believe me, there is hope. Do not let go,' he added.
Lock Paul Gabrillagues openly criticised the merger with an emotion-filled Facebook post.
'It's not a merger, it's the takeover of Stade Français by Racing… so the death of our club, the club of Paris. I will not participate in this masquerade. Show yourselves and show that we are many who love this club,' he wrote.
Toulon boss Mourad Boudjellal also weighed in on the saga: 'The takeover of Stade Français by Racing, because that's what it is, is just being dressed as a fusion.'
Boudjellal went to mock the clubs' poor support. 'One empty stadium plus one empty stadium, perhaps will make one half-empty stadium.
South African players that will be effected are Stade's Meyer Bosman, Morné Steyn, Jono Ross, Willem Alberts, Heinke van der Merwe and Craig Burden and Racing's Bernard le Roux, Antonie Claassen, Francois van der Merwe and runaway Johan Goosen.
Photo: Christophe Simon/Getty Images
