Racing certainty

THEIRS is a name synonymous with French rugby. Formed as a sporting club of many different disciplines for the Parisian elite in 1882, Racing Club de France, alongside Stade Francais, dominated the early years of the French Championship before disappearing — like Stade — for the bones of a century until the emergence of the bow-tie wearing and champagne guzzling side of Franck Mesnel, Eric Blanc and Jean-Baptiste Lafond in the late ’80s.

They won their fifth French Championship title in 1990, before sinking back into relative obscurity thereafter.

While Stade Francais took to pro rugby in the ’90s like a duck to water — thanks to the largesse and marketing skills of Max Guazzini — Racing wilted, unsure of its place in a wholly different world. That was until 2006, when one Jacky Lorenzetti arrived on the scene. Fresh from selling his estate agency Foncia for €700m, Lorenzetti needed a new plaything and saw Racing, languishing near the bottom of Pro D2 and whose supporters numbered in hundreds rather than thousands, as his chance to have some fun.