French clubs merger talks
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tigerburnie
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French clubs merger talks
Talks started to merge Biarritz and Bayonne into a Basque super club, what ever next?................Meinster?
Re: French clubs merger talks
Or the Leicester Saints?
The Bayonne, Biarritz merger was mooted on here before and I laughed it off as I always believed those clubs (and their fans) had far too much of a rivalry. Maybe this is part of an overall consolidation and contraction in European rugby.
The Bayonne, Biarritz merger was mooted on here before and I laughed it off as I always believed those clubs (and their fans) had far too much of a rivalry. Maybe this is part of an overall consolidation and contraction in European rugby.
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tigerburnie
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Re: French clubs merger talks
They've consulted with their fans and had some sort of vote, so I guess it may be , though one of them is rumoured to be in financial trouble.
Re: French clubs merger talks
Only merging their firsts from what I heard, underage (and amateur if they still have any) will remain separate.
Tigerburnie do the likes of Leicester, Quins etc still field amateur senior teams?
Tigerburnie do the likes of Leicester, Quins etc still field amateur senior teams?
Go on, give us a goo! https://twitter.com/DebRugby - rugby from Europe's eastern fringe.
Re: French clubs merger talks
I'm not TB, but I'll answer on behalf of Quins!
About 10 years ago, there was a lot of money given to Quins in the form of a grant to help finance the stadium (it was for the East stand, IIRC) and one of the conditions was the formation / support of the amateur side. A ladies team was therefore started (which is still going strong) and the amateur men's side was reformed. In the intervening decade, there have been varying amounts of support given to the amateur sides. At one point, there was a pitch behind the Stoop (which has long since been sold off for housing to pay for the south stand) and the mens and ladies amateur teams trained there. When Quins were training at Roehampton, the ams and ladies trained there. Once a year both the ladies and the ams play on the Stoop, but there is no financial support (or very little) between the pro and amateur clubs. A few years ago (when I played for the ladies), we had to pay member subs to both the ladies and pro clubs and I would think that's still the case.
The am side has either 2 or 3 sides and a vets side, the ladies one side. The ladies had a very good youth side, but I think that has since disbanded and I think the ams merged with a local rugby side to give themselves a youth (and juniors) side(s) and they seem so be doing ok (they had to merge or fold, IIRC).
Most premier teams, I think, have an amateur side attached in one way or another and it's down to the clubs in question on how they manage that relationship.
About 10 years ago, there was a lot of money given to Quins in the form of a grant to help finance the stadium (it was for the East stand, IIRC) and one of the conditions was the formation / support of the amateur side. A ladies team was therefore started (which is still going strong) and the amateur men's side was reformed. In the intervening decade, there have been varying amounts of support given to the amateur sides. At one point, there was a pitch behind the Stoop (which has long since been sold off for housing to pay for the south stand) and the mens and ladies amateur teams trained there. When Quins were training at Roehampton, the ams and ladies trained there. Once a year both the ladies and the ams play on the Stoop, but there is no financial support (or very little) between the pro and amateur clubs. A few years ago (when I played for the ladies), we had to pay member subs to both the ladies and pro clubs and I would think that's still the case.
The am side has either 2 or 3 sides and a vets side, the ladies one side. The ladies had a very good youth side, but I think that has since disbanded and I think the ams merged with a local rugby side to give themselves a youth (and juniors) side(s) and they seem so be doing ok (they had to merge or fold, IIRC).
Most premier teams, I think, have an amateur side attached in one way or another and it's down to the clubs in question on how they manage that relationship.
Re: French clubs merger talks
Thanks claire_m, was very curious (have an exam tomorrow so obviously this question HAD to be asked right now).
Go on, give us a goo! https://twitter.com/DebRugby - rugby from Europe's eastern fringe.
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Ruckedtobits
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Re: French clubs merger talks
Having just returned from BAB (laden with MO and other various rugby coverage) I have had the benefit of four days local coverage that Blanco and Afflelou (Biarritz and Bayonne top dogs) have agreed in principle "to investigate an amalgamation" of their professional teams.
All hell has broken out in the Aviron Bayonnaise - essentially the amateur and youth arm of Bayonne - who have threatened to call off all of their remaining games this season until the proposed amalgamation is rescinded.
Biarritz and Bayonne fans are not friends. Bayonne consider themselves and their city, true Basque and consider Biarritz a rich, jonny-come-lately holiday resort. Bayonne have Univesities, a port, a castle and a long history. Biarritz has a big Hotel, frequented by Napoleon and his Mistress and Edward VII and Mrs Simpson, and a huge Casino on the beach. Biarritz Olympique (BO) have however much more recent rugby success including a Heineken Cup and Top 14. In the modern era, Bayonne have been only survivors.
Cap Gemini, the French high-end Management Company are the main Biarritz sponsors and part-owners and Afflelou is the owner of the nationwide French Specsavers.
The current French FFR president is a Basque, Pierre Camou and Blanco has just been appointed by the FFR as Chairman of the Committee building their new Stadium in Paris.
These talks are no sideshow, but rather one of the most seismic events in French Rugby history in the professional era. Previously Bordeaux and Begles came together but it has been argued that they were not both in the Top 14 at the time.
The reason it is important is that French Clubs have always been "owned by the people, not by money". The emergence of monied owners in Toulon, Racing, Montpelier, Stade is resented and the traditionalists in French Rugby, who make up the FFR, are largely based in amateur Clubs in the South and outside Paris. If BO and Bayonne merge only for money reasons and at professional level, somebody is going to have to find very deep pockets. In France, you can "support" a Club as much as you like - but you cannot "own" it.
Interesting times ahead. France still thinks capitalism is a passing fad.
All hell has broken out in the Aviron Bayonnaise - essentially the amateur and youth arm of Bayonne - who have threatened to call off all of their remaining games this season until the proposed amalgamation is rescinded.
Biarritz and Bayonne fans are not friends. Bayonne consider themselves and their city, true Basque and consider Biarritz a rich, jonny-come-lately holiday resort. Bayonne have Univesities, a port, a castle and a long history. Biarritz has a big Hotel, frequented by Napoleon and his Mistress and Edward VII and Mrs Simpson, and a huge Casino on the beach. Biarritz Olympique (BO) have however much more recent rugby success including a Heineken Cup and Top 14. In the modern era, Bayonne have been only survivors.
Cap Gemini, the French high-end Management Company are the main Biarritz sponsors and part-owners and Afflelou is the owner of the nationwide French Specsavers.
The current French FFR president is a Basque, Pierre Camou and Blanco has just been appointed by the FFR as Chairman of the Committee building their new Stadium in Paris.
These talks are no sideshow, but rather one of the most seismic events in French Rugby history in the professional era. Previously Bordeaux and Begles came together but it has been argued that they were not both in the Top 14 at the time.
The reason it is important is that French Clubs have always been "owned by the people, not by money". The emergence of monied owners in Toulon, Racing, Montpelier, Stade is resented and the traditionalists in French Rugby, who make up the FFR, are largely based in amateur Clubs in the South and outside Paris. If BO and Bayonne merge only for money reasons and at professional level, somebody is going to have to find very deep pockets. In France, you can "support" a Club as much as you like - but you cannot "own" it.
Interesting times ahead. France still thinks capitalism is a passing fad.
Re: French clubs merger talks
think that this is the rot that is driving the PRL in England to try and destroy the HC - monied owners looking at making up some cash for their already fat wallets - clubs just becoming franchises - do you think the merger will go ahead?Ruckedtobits wrote:In France, you can "support" a Club as much as you like - but you cannot "own" it.
Interesting times ahead. France still thinks capitalism is a passing fad.