Dan Carter's French club Racing 92 merges with Stade Francais

Dan Carter's French rugby club Racing 92 has announced it will merge with Stade Francais in hope of creating one stronger side.

The clubs, which have both struggled this season in France's premier Top 14 league, said in statements on their websites that the combination would create a new, stronger club that could enjoy a bigger fanbase in the French capital.

Carter and fellow ex-All Black Joe Rokocoko are among Racing 92's stars, while Stade Francais' top players feature the likes of French international Pascal Pape and Italian Sergio Parisse.

Former All Black Byron Kelleher also played for Stade Francais, following his retirement from international rugby.

Wealthy businessmen have invested large sums of money in recent years into French rugby clubs, allowing them to sign top players from around the world.

Racing is owned by French property billionaire Jacky Lorenzetti, while businessman Thomas Savare is the current club president of Stade Francais.

Racing beat Toulon last year to win the French Top 14 title in front of a record crowd of more than 90,000 fans in Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium.

The team was rocked last year when Carter and Rokocoko tested positive for corticosteroids following their Top 14 final victory. The pair has since been cleared of wrongdoing.

Carter was last month charged with drink-driving in Paris in another blow to the club.

 

Photo: REUTERS (Dan Carter's Racing 92 will merge with Stade Francais).