Stade Francais is a problem for French rugby

The Club is technically bankrupt and that was the reason for the proposed merger with Racing Metro.   The French Rugby Union did not want the said merger and the result is that the club would have closed down at the end of this season unless an alternative solution was found.
In an effort to solve the problem the Union decided that it would be better of the club is kept on and that a new owner should be found to purchase the Club.   There were tw o interested parties who may buy the Club, namely a French consortium and a Chinese financier.   The French consortium is being favoured and negotiations is proceeding and should be concluded by the end of April.
That situation could affect the  SA players at present on contract with Stade Francais.  Those include inter alia Morne Steyn, Willem Alberts and Meyer Bosman.
The other bit of news is that Johann Goosen is back at Racing Metro, but they have not used him in any team fielded since his return about a month ago.       

I saw one of Meyer Bosman's mother's Tweets.

Speaking at Racing's press conference on Wednesday, Meyer Bosman;s mother told reporters that she remained in the dark as to the real reasons for Goosen's departure, but explained that Goosen's wife had always wished for him to return to South Africa and live on a farm, as per her conversations with Goosen himself:

I thought a lot about it. I try to put myself in the place of Johan. I don't know what his purpose is, why he made a decision like that.

He's not a weird guy but his decision is very bizarre. It's something almost incredible.

I talked a lot with him, he was convinced that his life was to live on a farm and he a hunter.
- until his last hunting trip where his his friend became the hunted.

Funny - but really not factual at all.    

 Racing Metro has shelved Johan Goosen, IMO. They have the upper hand and I suppose it is quite possible that they could be punishing him. They have done it in the past where they "ignored him" for a while and that seemed to work. He does, however, seem to be a serial offender. The previous "punitive measures" only seemed to last for one season. 
"But any team that wishes to sign Goosen would have to pay Racing €1m, while the club also indicated that they were planning legal proceedings against the player.

However, according to Midi Olympique, Goosen now has no choice but to return to Racing if he wants to continue his professional rugby career."

There are many signs that he seems to come across as being immature. He needs to make up his mind and do it pronto. Time is running out.
Although Stade Francais is not in the same financial league as the likes of Toulon and Racing, the idea of a merger was not primarily for financial reasons. None of the French clubs are in financial dire straits and that is because of the inflow of capital from various media channels. There are a number of media channels who contribute to French rugby. Apart from French Chanal+ there are also the likes of BT Sport, Sky Sport and ESPN who chip in for viewing rights.
These were the reasons for the merger.

"Stade Francais and Racing 92, two of France's leading rugby union clubs which are both based in the Paris region, announced plans on Monday to merge.

The clubs, which have both struggled this season in France's premier Top 14 league, said in statements on their websites that the merger would create a new, stronger club that could enjoy a bigger fanbase in the French capital. (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)"

 It is from the Reuters website. Reuters is not a normal newspaper type outlet. They are a news agency who collect facts and distribute it to the rest of the media.
I am surprised that both the RM and SF owners missed one crucial point in these "behind the scenes" negotiations that they sprung on the clubs and their supporters. You can force two clubs together but you cannot force the players and the supporters to support such an idea. They learnt their lesson very quickly. Never underestimate the force or power of the supporters. You just need to go back to the founding of Liverpool FC to understand the power of sports supporters.

 Please stay off the threads I started unless you have something pertinent to offer.  The above is all past tense BS.

Who made you the king of the castle, wanker?

Mike,
I don't get this concern with Goosen? He clearly has something serious going on in his psyche with this Racing Metro ordeal. Regardless of the talent, this isn't the type of person you would want in the national team.
I thought Goosen was electric when he first came on the scene, and I don't use that word lightly. He was clearly pushed too far, too fast - both physically and mentally. Another SA youngster mishandled, we'll never see his true potential. IRB should require players to participate in domestic varsity rugby until they are 22 imo - hands off from any NH poachers . They would emerge more emotionally and physically mature - able to handle the stresses of top level rugby - and realize their full potential.
Someone posted an article on here a couple weeks ago about letting the youngsters play, not protecting them. Dumbest, most short-sighted article I've seen in a while.
Lets hope Bosch doesn't go this way, but the track record is not good. 

 oimatey
I am not sure about your assessment of Goosen being in the wrong here.   Racing Metro consistently played him at 13 and he was seriously unhappy about that.   Ultimately he did not like it and returned to SA.   Somebody convinced him to return to Racing - but I am not sure he would play at flyhalf until Carter departs at the end of this season.    Carter was disappointing and the Club has not indicated that they would renew his contract.
Goosen was the Club Player of the Year in France in 2016 showing his real value as a player.    
I still think that Goosen is miles ahead of other flyhalfs in SA especially since Pollard has been so disappointing this year, Jantjies was seriously disappointing when under pressure and the youngsters lack experience and have  not come up against really strong  opposition.
There are some promising youngsters - Du Plessis, Du Preez and Bosch - but I would rather see them getting experience before being selected on higher level.             

Goosen bottles out under high balls and is obviously addled in the head....yesterday's news.

 If  you lie continuously please stay off threads started by me.

Okay if I lie I'll stay off threads started by you......in the meantime Goosen seems like a very dim fellow. Did this kid even pass matric.

Moz don't spoil the friendship and stop talking biased crap...you are entitled to your views and hopefully this forum allows us to post ours...little men like us all here are just complete amateurs in accessing players...but some of us see a bigger picture and speculate with fun...most of the garbage here is prejudiced (as if we really know?...lmfho) have you guys nothing better to do after you have wiped your arse and walking stick in the morning before your 500 metre stroll before breakfast?

Character assassination because you are fascinated with this or that player or for for some obscure reason "hate" a player gives a person full qualification, to enter a mental home, worst than the old movie "One flew over the cuckoos nest"...those guys seem quite balanced than what goes on here 

Sebastian what friendship?

IRB should require players to participate in domestic varsity rugby until they are 22 imo - hands off from any NH poachers. 

NH poachers as they are incorrectly called are going to pay for SA youth training. NH clubs are going to build a network of feeder clubs.
Young players are going to be drafted from age 16. The best of them will never know SA rugby unless as a rugby league to retire when they are drained out by NH games.