Top 14 clubs Racing 92 and Stade Français have announced that they will merge to form a new club next season.
Racing 92 is the Top 14 champions last year, and Stade Francais are the champions in 2015.
Joe Rokocoko and Leone Nakarawa are currently playing for Racing while Waisea Nayacalevu, Josaia Wini and Kitione Taliga are playing for Stade Francais.
Meanwhile one of the biggest changes to French rugby could be the move of bringing in central contracts for their international players.
Up till today, more than 200 Fijian players are playing in France including those who are playing in the Top 14 competition, Pro D2 and the Federation 1 and 2.
The move would see France follow the footsteps of New Zealand Rugby which binds its Super Rugby players to central contracts, meaning they have the ultimate say over player fitness, training regimes and club commitments during the domestic season.
It would also see a cut down of players contract terms to six months.
As compensation for the change, the French Rugby Federation would increase their subsidies to domestic clubs.
French Rugby President Bernard Laporte says the move is vital to their national team success at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
The presidents of French Top 14 clubs Toulouse and Clermont have already registered their strong opposition to plan which would significantly diminish the power the club has over the player, despite that club paying the player's wages.
This could be a sign that the seemingly unlimited cash in French rugby would be more focused and concentrated on developing their own talent instead of poaching it from the South Pacific.
This is Laporte's second major recommendation since being elected to the role in December after seeking to introduce a change to France's player eligibility policy last month.
Source: Newshub
