Stuart Lancaster, the former England head coach, has had his contract terminated by Racing 92 with immediate effect after a dismal run of results.

Telegraph Sport understands that Lancaster was informed of the club’s decision while on holiday on Monday and the playing group, which includes England internationals Owen Farrell and Henry Arundell, were told the news on Thursday.

Patrice Collazo, the no-nonsense former France prop who has coached Toulon, Montpellier and Brive, has already been lined up to take over the club based on the outskirts of Paris.

Racing 92 are 12th in the French Top 14 and missed out on a place in the Champions Cup last 16 thanks to Sale’s trouncing of Toulon in the final pool match.

It is understood that the writing was on the wall for Lancaster ahead of the European defeat at Glasgow, with the home loss to Castres last weekend providing the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Lancaster, whose son Dan also plays for Racing, joined the French aristocrats ahead of the 2023-24 season on a four-year contract after a feted stint as senior coach at Leinster.

The 55-year-old, who was England head coach between 2011 and 2015, led Racing 92 to a sixth-place finish last season, as well as a place in the Champions Cup last 16.

‘He was doing the job with one hand tied behind his back’

This season, however, performances have dipped. Lancaster was not aided by several off-field incidents. Laurent Travers, Lancaster’s predecessor as head coach of Racing 92, moved into an influential role as president while Siya Kolisi left the club abruptly ahead of the new season.

Farrell has not hit the heights this season and has also faced injury battles and France hooker Camille Chat was sacked after allegedly missing training because of a drunken night out.

“He was almost doing the job with one hand tied behind his back,” said a source close to the club.

Telegraph Sport has approached Racing 92 for comment.