I think there is maybe some confusion on the status of players.
The goal is full-time pro contracts for the first team, but the club will start with a mix of players on full time contracts, and others who are semi-pro. It is further complicated by the fact that some of the younger quality players will be "apprentices" a particular status in France. Toulouse is the only RL club in France to have a full-time Centre de Formation (the Dragons do not ) funded by the Government. The France Junior prop Maxime Circirko will be part of this, studying but also playing RL, receiving a grant. Ditto Telly Pelo (dmitri's cousin) who is a Student. Former St Gaudens Antoni Maria, on the fringe of the French national squad is also in this category, as is Nicolas Delgal. But they are all handy players but still finishing their apprenticeship/continuing their education as well.
There will be 8 FT pro contracts initially. the rest semi-pro, plus yonger lads from the C de F, but the squad will move towards FT for all for the second season, when they will also run a team in the Elite.
The club have appointed FT Coach, Assistant and Conditioner and references to "professionalism" are also in terms of the quality and standards. For example those players retained from last year's squad have already been undergoing personalised weight training (5 sessions a week to raise the physical standards)

Refreshing to read someone who knows what he's talking about. Thank you Cliff Sprack.

The Pure Economics of teams In Wales and France- competitive ones and a super league increased to 16 teams means that our next TV deal could be worth 30 million a year.......................Good job we are not negotiating it now though

Nah, they'll develop their own players in the LER, then we will loan them fringe players during the NL1 season.

Just out of interest how is the Toulouse squad shaping up in that case? What other players are on the books and where have they come from?

Will Damian Couturier be playing for Toulouse next season?

Reports from Carlos and Cedric on Staurday said they were champing at the bit to get a game against the Dragons. Damian Coutourier will be playing for the Olympique this season, and as well as on their website, when I can drag the squad list off the dog who thinks it's her dinner, (which Cedric kindly e-mailed me), I will post it on the site. Or you can get it from John D, the oracle, who told Cedric on Saturday twenty of his players and their squad numbers before Cedric had chance to open his mouth!!! (Think he may be picking the team for the Widnes game in march).

Think your a bit 'off-base' with your thinking that the ponential Elite 1 team will feature top Olympic C1 players.....yes, maybe for a few games just prior to start of the C1 season except for one or two fitness hit-up's at most.......but for 3/4 of Elite 1 and then for the full C1 season NO WAY......it will mean player 'burn out' big time.

I think that the TO team in the LER will be a very weak side, potentially bottom of the pile material. It will be made up of the current academy side, bolstered by visits from out-of-favour or fringe C1 players and possibly those that need to re-gain match fitness (say, after injury).

UTC:Catalans gives an example of how it will work.

This does not preclude some top C1 players making it into the LER side though.