No Rugby World Cup in Toulouse?

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.

Sad coincidence

A couple of weeks ago we helped some friends clear the house which their aged parents rented from a M Louis Blanc. From photos and items in the house it was clear that Louis Blanc was a well known rugby player for Montauban.(USM).
Coming from a family which was closely linked with USM, "Loulou" as he was known, captained the USM XV which won the French championship in 1967. Sadly the club announced today that their former hooker has died this weekend aged 85. A sad coincidence for us and our friends.

French Rugby League team makes history

Dragons celebrate: Pic Ed Sykes/Reuters

Most rugby supporters in this part of the world are afficionados of the 15 man game (and increasingly the female version), but Rugby a XIII as rugby league is called is also popular. For the first time in 122 years the English Challenge Cup has been won by a team from outside England.
Catalan Dragons based in Perpignan have been competing in the UK leagues and cups since 2006, usually with little success. The club is bolstered, as are many of its XV man colleagues, by players from abroad, but the XIII version is growing in popularity in Occitanie.
The Dragons overcame favourites Warrington at Wembley by 20-14 in their historic win, promising a future impact on the game in the region.

French rugby in chaos

The French rugby XV has not been in such a parlous state for years: rated only 10th amongst leading nations the search for success has led to former Toulouse legend Guy Noves losing his job this week.
Failure to mount any realistic challenge in the Six Nations in recent seasons, plus an autumn series of internationals showing the team's paucity made the decision inevitable. Oddly, the reason given for the sacking is "serious misconduct", which Noves contests, saying no details have been provided.
He has been replaced by Jacques Brunel, previously of Auch and Perpignan plus having been a selector for Italy.
Rumour has it that Noves's days were numbered when his arch-rival Bernard Laporte was elected as head of the French rugby federation and only an excuse was needed to fire the Toulousain. Brunel will be "assisted" by other Laporte acolytes, notably Fabien Galtier.
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2023 Rugby World Cup

will be held in France.  Despite an estimation by evaluation experts for World Rugby that South Africa was the best candidate in just a couple of weeks ago, placing France second, the governing body has chosen France by 24 votes to 15.
France has excellent stadia, many built for the Euro 2016 football tournament and given its status as the leading tourist destination can offer excellent hospitality facilities.
Dates of matches is to be decided, but will include Toulouse and Bordeaux.
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Montauban back in the big time?

The Sapiac based rugby club has suffered hard times these last few years: relegation from the Top 14 and banishment to the third tier due to financial irregularities. The club was re-formed as US Montauban (instead of MTG XV) and four years ago was promoted to Pro Div2. This season they finished third and therefore will play-off against Agen on Sunday. The match is on the Bordeaux ground where they won their only top tier championship, 50 years ago. Memories of an unsuccessful but exciting European Cup campaign in 2008 are enthusing players and supporters alike. The match can be seen live on France 3 from 15h15 on Sunday.
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End of another era?

For about the first time in 30 years Stade Toulousain has failed to make the end of season play-offs in French Rugby's Top 14 league. Nor did the traditionally powerful south west club make any headway in the European tournaments. Indeed they are perilously close to the relegation spots.
Marked by financial worries, the change of trainer 2 years ago and the impending retirement of several 30+ players (possibly even Thierry Dusautoir their inspirational skipper) the club needs to rely on its youngsters to see it through the season, before embarking on a "root and branch" reorganisation. It seems the days when French rugby was synonymous with Stade Toulousain are over - for now.
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Arsenal and Spurs to merge?

Seems inconceivable (and probably is), but the top two Paris rugby clubs are to do just that. Racing 92 and Stade Francais are the two latest winners of the Top 14, the French premier rugby competition, yet have decided to merge from the start of next season.
For financial reasons according to the clubs' directors, neither club operating at a profit. The pressure on top 14 clubs to sign overseas stars and pay big wages if they are to compete with the likes of Toulon, Toulouse and Clermont Auvergne has put smaller clubs under strain, even though the two Paris clubs have been successful in domestic and European competition.
It is not clear where the clubs will play their home matches and who will take the final place in the Top 14 as there will be one club fewer next season.
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Rugby in Toulouse today

France will play Samoa in the first of the autumn internationals today, kick off 17h45 (5.45pm) at the Stadium, the ground of TFC, with a simulcast onto a big screen in the Place Capitole. Also transmitted from 14h45 is the Pau-Racing 92 Top 14 match. Police and mairie officials advise getting there early and leaving rucksacks and crash helmets at home. There will be added security at both the Place and outside the Stadium.
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(All) Black morning for the French

Not just the weather is gloomy this morning. New Zealand crushed ("humiliated" says one newspaper) Les Bleus 62-13 in last night's Rugby World Cup quarter final. Former NZ coach Graham Henry blames the Top 14 championship format for weakening French domestic rugby (see post below). The Top 14 is the best paid league in the world attracting players from other countries (three of the All Blacks will be moving here after the World Cup) but Henry says it is poorly run and poorly coached, being interested only in TV and sponsorship money - sounds a bit like the English football Premiership.
It is becoming a bit difficult for us ex-pats to know who to support: England out; Wales out; France out. Malc's one eighth Scottish blood has never been so relevant. (Aussie, Springbok and Kiwi readers pick your own favourites).
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Thousands disappointed

The big screen in the place du Capitole saw thousands of hopeful French rugby supporters gather to watch the last group match of the French XV last night (Sunday 11 Oct). Les Bleus were up against Ireland, whom they have beaten in three previous World Cup meetings. This time, however, they were out-played by an Irish team, even though the men in green lost two very influential players to first half injury. Both teams are already through to the quarter finals, but the "prize" here was to avoid the redoubtable New Zealand All Blacks (called simply "les Blacks" in French). France will recall a previous World Cup victory ove the All Blacks in Cardiff, but they will have to play much better than last night to win this time.
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A bit of rugby

This Saturday is a big day for top rugby clubs in France and England. Here Toulouse are meeting little Oyonnax in the first play-off match for the Top 14. The match was described by the Oyonnax trainer as "a Ferrari versus a 2CV" - but we all know how a "deuche" will keep going whilst your Italian beauty can be temperamental.
But for Guy Noves, the Toulouse trainer, it could be one of his last matches in charge (the actual last if they lose) as he is set to be named the trainer for France's national team. The rugby world cup takes place later this year in England and Phillipe St Andre will stand down after that event to be replaced by Noves.
Winning the Top 14 on 10 occasions and the European Cup 4 times Noves has a solid track record of success, but this year the club has struggled and may themselves be ready for a change if they are to challenge the new might of Toulon and Clermont.
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It's just not rugby!

Women rugby players excite different emotions with male readers, from outright hostility to grudging admiration. But what to make of the suggestion that the young women representing France on Friday night in Montauban passed on to their club colleagues the details of tactics proposed by the Sapiac club (USM) against Perpignan?
The tactics were posted on the dressing room walls during the week when the French XV trained at the ground ahead of their match against Wales (which they won). USM lost 48-17 to Perpignan and looking for excuses suggested skullduggery by the girls from the south.
Now you wouldn't get such cheating in the men's game, would you.
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No blues for les rouges

Unusually playing in red, even though at home in Paris, the French rugby team overcame a spirited Scotland side 15-8. The Scots scored the only try of the match but were undone by conceding penalties which were kicked by Clermont Auvergne fly half Camille Lopez, making his Six Nations debut.
France face Ireland next weekend in Dublin.
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Scrum down at Toulouse

Tomorrow (Wednesday 17th Dec) is the AGM of Stade Toulousain Rugby club. This year the meeting may be more stormy than usual. The club has an overseeing committee, the president of which has mad a legal complaint for "abuse of office", though naming no names. The president of the playing section René Bouscatel is under fire, partly because the club has had a poor start this year and has even had a veiled criticism from coach Guy Noves. So look out for fireworks in the sky south tomorrow.
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France for the World Cup?

After a fine victory over the world number 3 team, Australia, by 29-26 yesterday, the French rugby team looks to be well on the road to rehabilitation. After a wooden spoon in the 2012/3 Six Nations and crushing defeats in the summer down under, the Autumn Internationals have shown two wins and with Argentina to come should put Pierre St Andre (PSA) their trainer in good spirit for the coming Six Nations. Wales looked poor against Fiji and England succumbed again to South Africa and Scotland had no luck against New Zealand, so France is looking good for  the 2015 World Cup to be played in England.
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No more "H Cup"

French advertising rules have meant that Heineken's sponsorship of the European rugby cup has always been a bit muted here, unlike in the other nations. But after long and bitter negotiations the Heineken Cup, or "H Cup" here, has been re-baptised The European Champions Cup and the celtic and Italian representation has been reduced by 3 clubs, plus one lost from England or France, giving 5 pools of 4 teams, 20 in all.
With TV rights up by nearly 20 million euros, to around 60 million in total, the 20 clubs and the Unions are looking to a cash bonanza this season.
Rights are now divided between Sky and BT in the UK and BeIN Sports in France, all on subscription channels; so no more France 3 coverage. The tourney started last night (Friday) with Harlequins defeating Castres.
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What's happening to le Stade?

Toulousain, that is. The mighty Stade are bottom of the league, with 5 defeats, including this weekend's thumping at Bayonne (35-19). Only Castres, the actual champions last year, are below them. With only 7 games gone there is time to put things right, but like Man Utd in that other sport, nobody is frightened at the prospect of meeting the Toulousains this season.
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Rugby internationals attacked

Three Clermont Auvergne players including internationals Rougerie, Pierre and Kayser were set upon by machete wielding  attackers. All three were leaving a Millau nightclub on Sunday morning and are said to be cut but not seriously injured, though Pierre, capped 27 times by France is to have surgery to deep cuts.
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Bye bye Jonny, but he is staying in France

JONNY WILKINSON signed off his remarkable career with the strains of God Save the Queen ringing in his ears after he guided Toulon to Top 14 glory in Paris on Sat.
Toulon fans had decided to sing the UK national anthem 10 minutes into the game, in tribute to the fly-half, who formally announced his long-anticipated retirement 
in the week leading up to the European final. But the words died in their throats as Scottish international Max Evans scored the only try of the game for the side from the Tarn. 
. - See more at: http://www.connexionfrance.com
Val says  They did however sing it again at the end of the game and Jonny will stay in France as coach to Toulon.
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