FOR the first time since 2022, Toulouse Olympique will be a Super League side.

The French side’s maiden season in the top flight ended in relegation, but now they are back following Championship Grand Final-winning success and an independent panel selecting them for promotion.

Sylvain Houles is still the man at the helm, taking his stewardship of Toulouse to 13 years and making him the longest-serving coach in Super League – that stability in itself can only be a good thing moving forward.

Having to foot the bill of all Super League clubs’ ventures to Toulouse – just like Catalans – will always be a cloud hanging over the French side.

And that may explain why just AJ Wallace (Hull KR), Luke Polselli (London), Mathieu Pons (Oldham), Henry O’Kane (South Sydney) and Tyler Dupree (Wigan, season-long loan) have signed for the club ahead of the 2026 season.

It’s all about planning for the future for Toulouse, so 2026 may be a baptism of fire for the newly-promoted side. Having a home in France, however, could help given the travel and weather conditions UK teams have to deal with.

A rekindled French derby with Catalans will also likely provoke considerable interest.

One to watch

Tyler Dupree may have made 62 appearances for Wigan, winning two Super League Grand Finals, one World Club Challenge and one Challenge Cup in the process, but he was deemed surplus to requirements in 2026. 

That is very much Toulouse’s gain with the rampaging 25-year-old still one of the best forwards in the competition. A fresh start in a new country could be the tonic Dupree needs to hit top form once more.

Talking tactics with Jodie Cunningham

Toulouse have taken a fairly measured approach for their return to Super League in regard to signings, and translating that into a composed playing style will help them grind out a few wins in 2026. 

Patience, along with a great kicking game, proved the difference in the Championship Grand Final against York, which was a great experience for a largely unchanged squad that have spent a few years building together. 

The left edge proved to be a potent threat on many occasions with Paul Ulberg and Reubenn Rennie developing a lethal combination, this, along with Olly Ashall-Bolt continuing his fine scoring form, will need to be a staple of their attack, if Toulouse are to challenge the more structured defences in Super League.

Potential milestones

Joe Bretherton needs 6 appearances for 150 in his career
Anthony Marion needs 21 appearances for 250 for Toulouse
Maxime Stefani needs 8 appearances for 100 for  Toulouse

Squad: 1 Olly Ashall-Bott, 2 Paul Ulberg, 3 Reubenn Rennie, 4 Paul Marcon, 5 Ben Laguerre, 6 Thomas Lacans, 7 Jake Shorrocks, 8 Lambert Belmas, 9 Brendan Hands, 10 James Roumanos, 11 Maxime Stefani, 12 Mathieu Jussaume, 13 Anthony Marion, 14 Calum Gahan, 15 Joe Cator, 16 Joe Bretherton, 17 Rob Butler, 18 Baptiste Rodriguez, 19 Roméo Tropis, 20 AJ Wallace, 21 Ellis Gillam, 22 Henry O’Kane, 23 Tyler Dupree, 24 Pierre-Jean Lima, 25 Luke Polselli, 26 Trevor Chiffolleau, 27 Hugo Garrigues, 28 Mathieu Pons, 29 César Rougé

Ins: AJ Wallace (Hull KR), Luke Polselli (London), Mathieu Pons (Oldham), Henry O’Kane (South Syndey), César Rougé (Catalans), Tyler Dupree (Wigan, loan)

Outs: Radean Robinson (released), Dominique Peyroux (Albi), Greg Richards (Barrow)

RLW predicts: 13th

First published in Rugby League World magazine, Issue 517 (February 2026)