Toulon

One to watch: Jerry Collins

- 2008/9 Season Preview -

Club Details

Rugby Club Toulonnais

Stade Félix-Mayol

Quai Lafontan

83000 Toulon

Stadium Capacity: 13 670

Website: www.rctoulon.com

Founded: 1908

Last time around: ProD2 Champions ProD2 Champions - promoted to Top 14. Toulon were easily the best club in the ProD2 - you would expect as much considering their budget, which absolutely dwarfed anything else in France's second division. With a squad of international (although somewhat elderly) superstars they were always headed one way - into the Top 14.

This time? It takes more than a big cheque book to do well in the big leagues, but having a millionaire club owner certainly helps. The changing rooms at Félix-Mayol have looked a bit like a international arrivals/departures lounge at an airport these days. Exit Mehrtens, Gregan, Matfield and Oliver, enter Collins, Van Niekerk, Henjak etc, etc, etc. With all their big names on board, finishing outside of the top half of the table will be embarrassing. But Rome wasn't built in a day and 2008/2009 will be the first real test of Tana Umaga's coaching abilities.

Coaches: Tana Umaga needs no introduction as a player. The All Blacks legend has used his master's money and his own reputation to recruit a formidable squad. Untested as yet as a coach in the big leagues, he will have no place to hide in the Top 14. He certainly has the respect of his players and the support of the Toulon faithful. Time will tell if he can translate brilliance on the field to success from the sidelines.

One to watch: Take your pick. Umaga's cousin and fellow All Blacks legend Jerry Collins will form an awesome back row partnership with Springbok Joe van Niekerk.

Final 2008/9 league position prediction: 7th

In: Olivier Missoup (loose forward, Oyonnax), Sisa Koyamaibole (loose forward, Padova Petrarca), Davit Kubriashvili (prop, Montpellier), Jerry Collins (loose forward, Hurricanes), Ben Castle (prop, Waikato), Jocelino Suta (lock, Mont-de-Marsan), Mathieu Larrouy (prop, Albi), Jerome Filitoga Taofifenua (prop, Albi), Guillaume Ribes (hooker, Albi), Tiaan Liebenberg (hooker, Western Province), Ross Skeate (lock, Western Province), Joe van Niekerk (loose forward, Lions), Matt Henjak (scrum-half, Western Force), Sébastien Fauqué (fly-half, Montauban), Ramiro Pez (fly-half, Venise), Damien Vidal (fly-half, Béziers), Luke Rooney (centre, Penrith), François van der Merwe (lock, Western Province) Sonny Bill Williams (Canterbury Bulldogs).

Out: Chris Rossouw (fly-half, Cheetahs), George Gregan (scrum-half, Suntory Sungoliath), Anton Oliver (hooker, Cambridge University), Victor Matfield (lock, Bulls), Dan Luger (wing, Nice), Franck Alazet (lock, Nice), Jerry Tamanisau (wing, Bordeaux), David Douy (centre, Osaka), François van Schouwenburg (lock, Bulls), Wessel Roux (prop), Lawrence Sephaka (prop, Lions), Medhi Merabet (prop, Métro-Racing), Nico Breedt (loose forward), Nathan Mauger (centre), Andrew Mehrtens (fly-half).

Colours: Red and black

Travel connections: Toulon is about 45 minutes drive East of Marseilles, which has an international airport. Stade Félix-Mayol lies in the centre of Toulon within walking distance of the train Station.

By air: Aéroport de Toulon-Hyères lies 24 kms from the city centre and is serviced by a number of airlines including Ryanair (from London) and Air France.