Ready for some Parisien panache?

Lionel Nallet talks to Ian Moriarty about Racing Metro’s ambitions in their first Heineken Cup.

IT SEEMS almost unthinkable that we've ploughed through 15 years of Heineken Cup rugby without once having the pleasure of one of the most famous clubs of them all; Racing Club de France - now known as Racing Metro since a merger in 2006.

Despite a history sprinkled with greatness the professional era, until recently, ignored them. Now back in the big time and at the summit of the Top 14, Racing have taken what had belonged to Stade Francais - the mantle of Paris' greatest club - and have grand aspirations in Europe.