STUART LANCASTER, the former England and Leinster rugby coach, has left Racing 92 after a string of poor results, the French Top 14 side announced on Saturday.
The 55-year-old Englishman took over the reins of the club in the summer of 2023 but has never managed to live up to the promise of the first few months. They are presently 12th in the Top 14 and failed to make the last 16 of the Champions Cup.
“Racing 92 and Stuart Lancaster have decided to end their collaboration with immediate effect,” the club said in a statement.
“Racing 92 would like to thank Stuart Lancaster and wish him all the best for the future. For his part, Stuart wishes Racing 92 all the best for the end of this season and for future seasons.”
The club also confirmed Patrice Collazo has replaced him “until the end of the season”.
Collazzo, who has been head coach at both La Rochelle and Toulon, performed a similar role for Montpellier last season when he was parachuted in midway through and helped them escape relegation from the Top 14.
His first game in charge will be at home against bottom side Vannes on February 15.
Lancaster’s first season ended with the club finishing sixth in the Top 14 table and qualifying for the knockout stage of the competition, although they were beaten 31-17 in their semi-final play-off by Bordeaux-Begles.
Hopes for the current season were raised with the signing of former England captain Owen Farrell although that was offset by the departure of Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi.
Farrell’s impact has been limited by form and injury, which has contributed to Racing’s inconsistent form.
Last weekend’s home defeat by Castres was their sixth successive game in the Top 14 without a win, their longest winless streak in the competition.
At a time of flux for the club, chairman Laurent Travers left the club in December to be replaced by Arnaud Tourtoulou.
If he gets back into the Irish setup without others getting injured I’d be very surprised. Saying that if he does merit a recall then he’ll be playing fantastic rugby so for Ireland sake I hope he does.
@Chris Mc: It’s all about him I reckon cause he’s definitely got the talent/ability. As someone else pointed out here he looked in bad shape for a lot of his time at Wasps, if he really focuses on that he could challenge for a place on the squad no problem.
@The Irish Pain: wasps wanted him heavier, to be a different prop than the mobile less effective scrumager cooper wolley
Ireland now have 5 reliable TH props available . Furlong , Porter , Bealham , Ryan and Moore : all under 30 . That’s an incredible turnaround .
@Limón Madrugada: Maybe you could include Archer on that list as he seems to be first choice in Munster.
@Tom Reilly: but reliable for Ireland ?? I’m not convinced , he is capped though for sure ..
Someone on here yesterday said that Leinster made a ‘poor decision’ letting Marty Moore go.
I think the opposite, Marty Moore made a poor decision to leave Leinster.
When he left he was in the Irish 23, primed to replace Ross. He moved to Wasps and ended up not even starting for them. He also looked unfit.
In that time Leinster developed Furlong and Porter, Ireland brought in Bealham and Ryan and a few years later he’s back fighting for 3rd/4th in the Irish pecking order.
A shame because he is some prop on his day. Possibly a better scrummager than any of the above.
@Oval Digest: The word was that Moore was excited to play under Dai Young, a well capped Welsh and Lions prop. Maybe it was the 2 year deal offered by Leinster vs the 3 year Wasps deal (undoubtedly for more money) that was the real reason. Or maybe he saw Tadgh Furlong coming through and thought now’s the time to cash in. Or perhaps he thought Leinster are not gonna be challenging any more. If it was the Young factor that helped him go, the renowned Young had no impact on him other than gaining weight. The move might have been good for his bank balance but it was a disaster for his career. Thus far. Still, a big season and he could play his way in.
@grandslamkbo The word was also that Moore signed a contract without realising that he couldn’t get out of it in an effort to bargain with the IRFU, and then got stuck.
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/leinster-admit-defeat-in-bid-to-retain-marty-moore-s-services-1.2510136
Marty is good on his day when fit, the problem is there just isn’t enough of those days.
He will have to buck up his ideas if he is to have a sniff of being anywhere near the Irish squad.
Yes squad not team
His whole career and how people will view his achievements relies on his application for the next two years
Be interesting to see how Nathan Hughes goes this season, he should be pushing for a place in the English team.
@Ruairi O’Bric: He is a super club player but I’m not sure about his workrate apart from ball carrying. If Billy V stays fits there’s no comparison…
Looked very unfit at Wasps as when he was playing previously for Leinster he had great mobility/work-rate and could force a few turnovers too.
He was overweight when he last played for Leinster and Ireland and things have only gotten worse since, needs to go on a serious shred if he is to make Ireland contention again.