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Toulouse

Monday 25th August 2008

One to watch: Maxime Medard

- 2008/9 Season Preview -

Club Details

Stade Toulousain
Stade Ernest Wallon
B.P 42354
31022 Toulouse Cedex 2

Stadium Capacity: Ernest Wallon: 19,000/ Stadium Municipal: 38,650
Website: www.stadetoulousain.net
Founded: 1907

Last time around: Top 14 Champions (and Heineken Cup runners-up). After finishing second on the championship table, a quite brilliant display at the Stade de France in the Top 14 Final saved Toulouse's season. Defeat in the European Cup Final and a unprecedented spate of injuries to top players due to a hectic playing schedule left a sombre mood in Toulouse for a few weeks. At crunch time however, they showed why they remain the benchmark of French club rugby to win the Bouclier de Brennus for the seventeenth time.

This time? The giants from the south-west will once again start their season aiming at a European-French double. Only a fool would bet against Toulouse making at least the semi-finals of the Top 14 and all indications are that the triple European champs will do the same in the Heineken Cup. Unlike many clubs in France, the champions have not recruited en masse. They have, however, plugged the only hole in their arsenal, at fly-half, with not one, but two French international number tens in the form of returning local boys Fred Michalak and David Skrela. Toulouse always set the bar very high, which ironically could be their downfall. Competing on two fronts is never easy and the 'big red machine's' biggest challenge will be keeping their squad out of the infirmerie.

Coach: As the longest serving and most respected coach in the Top 14, Guy Nov�s, is never shy to speak his mind. His loyalty to his players is unquestionable and they reply in kind. Himself a former French international (6 Caps), his record as coach speaks for itself: seven French and three European championship titles make him one of the most successful coaches in the history of European club rugby.

Captain: Although this is a role shared by a handful of senior players, veteran lock Fabien Pelous is, quite literally, the stand-out figure. The former captain of France has decided to extend his long career by one season - he will be 36 when the season reaches its business end but judging by last season, he has lost none of the fire that made him France's most-capped player. A more experienced leader one could not ask for.

One to watch: With world-class stars in almost every position it is hard to single one player out. But 23-year-old Maxime Medard, a product of the club's youth system, is one of France's most promising full-backs/wings. In 2008, injuries to Vincent Clerc and Clement Poitrenaud made Medard a regular feature in the starting XV and the experience saw him grow in maturity and become one of the French league's top try-scorers.

Final 2008/9 league position prediction: 1st

In: Fr�d�ric Michalak, (fly-half, Sharks), David Skrela (fly-half, Stade Fran�ais), Beno�t Lecouls (Biarritz).

Out: Maxime Mermoz (centre, Perpignan), Omar Hasan (prop, retired) Jean-Fran�ois Montauriol (loose forward, Venise), Valentin Courrent (Biarritz), Marcus Di Rollo (centre, retired), Yoann Huget (wing, Agen).

Colours: Red and Black

Tickets: 9 - 17 Euros.

Travel connections: Toulouse has a small international airport (Blagnac) that is serviced by a number of airlines. Stade Ernest Wallon lies next to the high-way between the airport and city centre (Exit 1 'Les Sept derniers') and can also be reached from town on bus line 16.