9 replies to this topic

[audois]

Well Niel Wood of the RFL was in town last week to chat with club coach Gilles Dumas and other club officials to discuss the clubs progress in the Championship. They seem to have stumbled around a bit since their entry in 2009. Their team going into their third campaign doesn't inspire confidence at the moment. Two of their better players - Griffi and Nathan Wynn - have gone off to play at Lezignan whilst Duport has returned to the Catalan, Worrall gone back to England and Mitchell to Australia. On paper they look inferior to last years team.

They have recruited an Aussie half back Lewis and Sheffields hooker Cook. People here thought the likes of the Bentley brothers would have been a good fit for TO but they've chosen to play in the local comp Kane at Pia and Andrew at Lezignan. At the moment FCL look a better outfit than Toulouse which doesn't seem right.

Edited by audois, 27 October 2010 - 05:25 PM.

[audois]

It all seems a bit lacking in ambition in some ways but the fact is the club will for the first time play in the NRC in 2011 which is progress. May be they've got other irons in the fire so to speak such as a better link up with the Catalans re-dual registrations which didn't happen last season. Having a former Toulouse man in charge Trent Robinson at the Dragons may facilitate this.

TO to give them credit have invested quite a lot in a centre of formation and a number of these younger players are slowly starting to emerge such as back rowers Tisseyre and Larroyer plus backs Bienes and Vignau all who debuted last year. Some of these lads are also getting senior experience playing in the local comp with St Gaudens as well as with the Federations Roosters U20s side.

One result also stood out this past weekend; Toulouse Jules Julian beating second division champions Palau which is further proof that something is building up around the city.

Saturday out at Albi waiting for the international I arrived early and wandered over to the Stadium annexe pitches and noted Lezignan U16s playing Toulouse. Normally wouldn't expect a lot from the latter as they dont do much at this level. But I was pleasantly surprised. FCL won comfortably because they had a better balance ; they had 17 decent players where as Toulouse just had about five reasonable lads including a super gifted stand off and a revelation of a lad at loose forward who the FCL could only contain by putting three markers on him. This black kid was superb. Classic physique. Athletic, tough and scored the best indiviudual try of the match running through the heart of the opponents defence stepping and handing off. Just hope they can keep a lad like that and he develops his potential. Will look for his appearance for French Cadets against English Schools in the Spring. Must be a cert on this performance.

Edited by audois, 27 October 2010 - 06:07 PM.

[skep155]

What's happening at Villeneuve btw? Weren't they evaluated as one of the prospective teams to be a French SL franchise when Perpignan got the nod? I'm sure I read about it somewhere.

Toulouse seem to lack finances, which is perhaps the most important criteria when thinking about playing in SL, you need someone whose willing to foot the bills. If the Aude clubs could swallow their pride and form a regional club then they could be better placed to apply for SL? Can't see it working in a town as small as Lezignan though, would have to be based at Carcassonne surely?

[bowes]

What's happening at Villeneuve btw? Weren't they evaluated as one of the prospective teams to be a French SL franchise when Perpignan got the nod? I'm sure I read about it somewhere.

Toulouse seem to lack finances, which is perhaps the most important criteria when thinking about playing in SL, you need someone whose willing to foot the bills. If the Aude clubs could swallow their pride and form a regional club then they could be better placed to apply for SL? Can't see it working in a town as small as Lezignan though, would have to be based at Carcassonne surely?

Villeneuve are usually about midtable more or less (not sure exact position at the moment), not the side they were as they hit financial troubles just after their failed SL bid and the reformed club has never reached the same heights

Edited by bowes, 27 October 2010 - 08:54 PM.

[audois]

What's happening at Villeneuve btw? Weren't they evaluated as one of the prospective teams to be a French SL franchise when Perpignan got the nod? I'm sure I read about it somewhere.

Toulouse seem to lack finances, which is perhaps the most important criteria when thinking about playing in SL, you need someone whose willing to foot the bills. If the Aude clubs could swallow their pride and form a regional club then they could be better placed to apply for SL? Can't see it working in a town as small as Lezignan though, would have to be based at Carcassonne surely?

Well a few weeks ago Villeneuve with 17 locals on board beat the highly fancied Carcassonne with five or more overseas players. They also provided six lads who played for the Roosters last summer including a real will-o'-the wisp half back in Robin. But as others have indicated weren't really a real SL option.

Regarding TO cannot quite grasp the issue. Some here say they have the money but are restricted in what they pay because of the salary cap. Lezignan appear to be paying a lot more than them and why Griffi, Bentley and Wynn have landed up there. FCL ambitious and want to play in the Championship but wouldn't they be restricted in the same way?

Edited by audois, 28 October 2010 - 10:11 AM.

[bird]

As an outsider I find it incredible that Toulouse and Catalan didn't use the opportunity for dual registration in the same way Scorpions and Crusaders did.

[bowes]

As an outsider I find it incredible that Toulouse and Catalan didn't use the opportunity for dual registration in the same way Scorpions and Crusaders did.

Catalans have their own reserve team

[audois]

As an outsider I find it incredible that Toulouse and Catalan didn't use the opportunity for dual registration in the same way Scorpions and Crusaders did.

It certainly didn't work like others thought it would. But the Catalans under pressure all season long with a string of issues which didn't facilitate the process. I think in total one appearance each for youngsters Gigot and Barthau. It makes you think that from 2011 any player in the Dragons squad if not selected for SL duty plays for either Toulouse or the Roosters.

[winnyason]

I really think that the french are not working toward the goal of a 2nd superleague side and in some ways a team that has more potential than the catalans brand that has more scope in spain than france in all honestly.
The question i have is how long til FCL go bust, at best they may turn into a championship side but in all honestly is the championship any better than the local french league, have seen that the avignon vs carpentras derby attracted 2500 and the fcl vs asc game had 3000 attend so with the aude and vacluse region booming and the addition montpellier and hopeful return of albi will see good crowd for derbies. The ffr 13 should be having at least 6 derbies a season to maximize crowd numbers.
To me Toulouse is very much needed to give france that big city presence, the european cup was a eye opener as to what crowds can be had with regional cities avignon and albi attracting big attendances. I can see clubs only looking out for themselves and not the game as a whole. Catalans shelfish attitude toward the national team cost them a spot in the four nations, with greenshields, bosc, ferriol, gossard, raguin and mounis all put in cotton wool.
The national team has so much more pull than the catalans brand, don't get me wrong but i get the feeling that toulouse should have been granted the superleague spot ahead of a team that is limited in exposure in france.

Toulouse may surprise at least they still have worth who is the best forward in the championship

[audois]

Should some how look to integrate two regional entities with the Aude and Vaucluse playing cross-Channel games on regular basis. 2011 Toulouse and Scorpions will enter NRC. Why not make it 24 entry following season with these two additional teams. Northern Rail - Eurostar Challenge or something.