Rugby à XIII – Championship: Toulouse joins the Catalans Dragons in the elite of rugby in the English first division

The final between the two Championship leaders turned to the advantage of Sylvain Houlès’ men, who will finally discover the Super League in 2022. They will join the Catalans Dragons there, in place of Leigh, last of the Super League and who does the opposite.

The Toulouse, leaders of the regular phase and undefeated this season have logically, but lucidly won their battle to achieve a goal after which they have been chasing since 2003.

During the first period, Toulouse Olympique was able to take points with each foray into the opposing camp. Continued domination which led the Whites and Blues to widen a 16-0 lead at halftime. The veteran Rémi Casty makes a successful start with effective percussions which undermine the defense of Featherstone.

Toulouse Olympique stalled early in the second half and showed a frequent lack of realism. In the 60th minute, Ferres came very close to scoring a brace. Fortunately for Toulouse, the second row drops the ball before flattening. When suddenly, a thunderclap resounds above the Walloon. Mathieu Jussaume, who scored a first-half try, capitalized on the efforts of the whites and blues by scoring his third try. Soon after, John Davies scored a powerful try for the British. But that was without counting on the leading scorer in Toulouse Olympique history, Mark Kheirallah, who scored his try and converted him. The score will not change and the TO XIII wins with a nice 30 to 12 on the scoreboard.

• 78 ‘Even with this comfortable mattress, the Toulouse defense does not weaken and defensive solidarity increases. White is sanctioned with a yellow card.
• 80 ‘At the very last second, the show ends in apotheosis with this final essay by Johnaton Ford.
• 80 ‘The TO XIII wins 34-12 against Featherstone. Toulouse won this Championship and at the same time obtained its ticket for the Super League.

The TO then took full control of the game, in front of 9,200 spectators. At the end of the game, Eloi Pélissier, offers the realization of the victory to Mathieu Jussaume who signed a double, saving.

With its victory over Featherstone Rovers in the Championship final on Sunday 10 October 2021, the TO XIII is making history. He joins the Super League, the elite of rugby union!

After a dantes season that, where they have not conceded the slightest defeat, the rugby players of Toulouse Olympique XIII have imposed themselves with the manner, Sunday October 10, 2021 at the Ernest-Wallon stadium, in the final of the Championship, the second English division, facing the Featherstone Rovers. A victory synonymous with a ticket to the prestigious Super League. Already on the roof of Europe in rugby union, the Pink City is now climbing into the European elite… in rugby union, the English championship being a bit like the NBA of the discipline.

The Toulouse are rewarded for their perfect season in the Championship: first in the regular season and unbeaten with 14 successes in as many matches, they had flown over their semi-final against Batley (51-12). Sunday evening, the day after Stade Toulouse’s Top 14 victory in front of Pau (38-10), the TO won five tries to two in front of the 2nd in the regular season, including a double from center Mathieu Jussaume.

If the rise of the TO XIII is confirmed, the 2022 season is still uncertain in terms of its schedule, but especially its purpose. Indeed many clubs want a Super League competition with ten teams. Suddenly, there may be between two descents at the end of the next season, if the formula with 10 clubs in 2023 is validated.

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Gabriel MIHAI

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