Racing 92 head coach Stuart Lancaster is facing a mutiny by his French players in Paris according to Andy Goode, and is seeking a return to Ireland with Munster.
The big-spending Parisians lie in eighth place in the Top 14 with five wins from 11, and were comprehensively beaten by Sale Sharks on Friday in the Investec Champions Cup 29-7.
With Munster still searching for a long-term head coach following the departure of Graham Rowntree in October, Goode revealed on The Rugby Pod that the former England boss has “chucked his hat in the ring” at Thomond Park.
Lancaster enjoyed unbridled success in Ireland with Leinster, winning the Champions Cup in 2018 and finishing runner-up on three occasions, before moving to the Top 14 in 2023. However, Goode believes he is not enjoying the “fickle” environment in France, which saw club president Jacky Lorenzetti publicly criticise former South Africa captain Siya Kolisi last season, describing him as overweight and “transparent”.
The players are rumoured not to be particularly enamoured with Lancaster either, with the French contingent taking umbrage with some of his selection decisions this season.
“I’m hearing either Lanny wants out or they want him out,” Goode said.
“He’s picking his son at fly-half. Apparently, the French lads are not happy with Stuart Lancaster whatsoever and I’m not sure Lanny’s enjoying that relationship with the French lads and the club.
“You know how fickle it is over there, when Jacky Lorenzetti can call out one of the best players in the world in Siya Kolisi saying he’s put on weight, he leaves and goes back to the Sharks. It isn’t a stable relationship when you start losing a few (players).
“The easy thing to do over in Racing and in France, in general, is just to blame the non-french option, blame the English guys, blame the Scots, blame whoever else is there that’s not French and Lanny’s under some heat.
“I’ve heard he’s chucked his hat in the ring for Munster because he wants out of Racing, but we’ll see what happens.”
