The original plan was TO would play in the French Lord Derby Cup instead of entering the Northern Rail Cup, which seemed like a smart move. It now seems that they're not going to play inthe French Cup this season, either.

They do have the one friendly game against Catalans on 24 Jan, but seems like a risk of being a bit unprepared going into the start of the season?

Why are you not playing in the Lord Derby Cup?

I'm not sure there's anyone on here who would be 'you' as far as Toulouse go.

Suspect some combination of

- team not ready in time for early rounds
- later rounds of the cup would clash with championship fixtures and midweek games are a non-starter for travel reasons
- LER clubs taking their ball home after they were left with blank weekends when toulouse dropped out of their league after the fixtures had been announced.

Toulouse have managed to arrange a couple of friendlies against scratch sides, but it's far from ideal preparation and Gilles Dumas said he was worried because the other clubs will have had several northern rail games to get up to speed.

Pleas forgive me for being English, resident here, and having an interest in French Rugby League, but I may be "You"?
I am in regular contact with Toulouse Olympique, and feel that they will be a breath of fresh air in the Championship this year. I hope they do well.
However, I hope that all Championship teams, also in League 1 as well have a good season, with good crowds, success, humour, and entertainment, so that the Holy Grail of Super League is matched by enthusiastic fans who watch their teams because they love them, not because they are successful. (And I hope Hunslet do well as well!)

Carlos , not a criticism , just a bit of friendly advice , dont mention Super League when posting about Toulouse or the Championships

It doesn't sit well

All the best

with some

Considering that Toulouse are in the Championships to give them [ The Championships ] more ' profile and credibility ' do you think mentioning SL or thier entrance to SL in 2012 at every posting is a good thing , will it help Championship fans accept them more or less as a worthwhile addition to this competition ?

Especially as the majority of fans actually interested in thier inclusion are fans of Championship clubs

You may find it funny that every mention will cause annoyance , but that would not surprise me

But it Doesn't fit in well with the ' Vibrant competition worth winning in it's own right ' message from the RFL does it

What starbug said.

super league - super league - super league - na na na na nah!

Thanks for that well thought out insightful post

Now lets move on

The club was expecting to play in the Lord Derby Cup, partly to maintain links with the other LER clubs, as well as much needed match practice. But LER clubs were unhappy, I believe because the club did not enter a team in the LER this year, and objected, so the French Federation did not invite TO this year. It is possible that TO will have an LER side next next year, as the TO Junior team have been having an exzceptional season in the Elite Junior competition, only the talented Carpentras Juniors having beaten them. But many of the lads in this team will be a year older.
I am doing a weekly Championship summary on the TO website, to explain The Championship etc to French fans, which started last week.
Of course the disadvantage for TO is clearly lack of match practice. The training regimes have been physically tough but there is no substitute for serious match practice. The match against a Tarn Selection next weekend at Albi is about promoting the venture in the broader area, the Tarn being a hotbed of amateur RL, and to bring fans there into the broader family in the same way that the Dragons have fans from a wide area.