The 2023 Rugby World Cup (RWC) is to be played in France, but possibly with no matches in Toulouse.
The city esteems itself as the home of the 15 man game here, but their biggest matches, either domestic or European, are played at the Stadium normally used by TFC (Toulouse Football Club). The stadium belongs to the municipality so any works needed would fall onto local authorities to fund or carry out.
The main problem is that international rugby matches must have a 5 metre perimeter around the actual playing area, for the safety of the players. The stadium can only offer 4.25 metres and would need some major changes, and loss of seats, to find the extra 25 centimetres.
There was similar concern when the football European Nations Cup was played here some years ago, as the run off from the pitch was too steep.
Unlike most English clubs who own their grounds, French teams play in municipal stadiums and it requires major local investment to build new grounds to international standards. Lille has recently built a new stadium, and Paris and Marseille have grounds big enough. But Toulouse is unlikely to invest the millions of euros needed, so the possibility of no RWC matches in the home of French rugby remains a possibility.
