Rugby: city of Béziers (FRA) sells 75% of AS Béziers Hérault (Pro D2) to an Irish consortium

A consortium backed by the Irish fund Strangford Capital, co-founded by Eddie Jordan (IRL), owner of the Jordan Grand Prix Formula 1 team from 1991 to 2005, has acquired a 75% stake in French rugby club AS Béziers Hérault (Pro D2) from the city of Béziers (Hérault), announced the parties involved on 07/11/2024.

The consortium is led by former New Zealand hooker Andrew Mehrtens (70 caps), who played (2010-11) and then coached at ASBH (2011-2013), and former third row and captain of the South African Springboks, Bobby Skinstad (42 caps). The two men become co-presidents of AS Béziers Hérault, the third most successful French club in the league (11 titles).

In detail, the purchase was made from the Société Coopérative d'Intérêt Collectif (SCIC, Collective Interest Cooperative Society) created "as a matter of urgency" by the city in 2021 to rescue the club, which was facing financial difficulties following the failure of the sale of ASBH to an investor from the United Arab Emirates, a project spearheaded by former French international Christophe Dominici (see below).

The SCIC will retain…