Under municipal ownership for the past four years, AS Béziers, today in Pro D2 after dominating French rugby for many years, has been bought by an Irish investment fund, as part of a sports project headed by ex-All Black Andrew Mehrtens, the town’s mayor announced on Thursday.

“The club is saved”Robert Ménard rejoiced at a press conference, alongside the club’s two new co-presidents, two legends of world rugby: former New Zealand opener Andrew Mehrtens (70 caps) and former third-rower and captain of the South African Springboks, Bobby Skinstad (42 caps), 2007 world champion.

AS Béziers Hérault’s new majority shareholder is an Irish investment fund, Strangford Capital, co-founded by businessman and former Formula 1 boss Eddie Jordan, in association with other investors with a passion for sport. For an undisclosed sum, the fund bought back 75% of the shares held by the city through a cooperative society of collective interest (SCIC) set up when the club was rescued in 2021. The SCIC will retain 2-3% of the capital, however, so that the city can keep a close eye on the management of the club, to which it provides an annual subsidy of around 1.5 million euros, said Mr. Ménard.

Four years ago, Mr. Ménard was the driving force behind a controversial takeover of the club by the city, following the failure of a takeover project led by former French international Christophe Dominici, in association with Emirati funds. “We promised not to cut the budget”. of the current season and “we’ll be looking to increase it over the next three years”.explained Andrew Mehrtens.

No immediate upheaval in the squad or coaching staff

Mehrtens and Skinstad have warned, however, that no immediate changes are to be expected in the squad or management of the club, currently in 7th place in the UEFA Europa League. Pro D2 rankings before hosting Dax on Friday for Matchday 10. “In three or four years, we can achieve a lot. Climbing into the Top 14 is one thing, but you also have to think about the efforts needed to stay there.”added the former All Black, reminding us that the club will already have to get back to the top of Pro D2.a “tough competition”. But “we’re not here to create a foreign club, it must remain a French club”.insisted Andrew Mehrtens, in French, before changing his mind. We’re going to stay a Biterrois club”..

French champions 11 times between 1961 and 1984, AS Béziers have not played in the French rugby elite since the 2004-2005 season.