Toulouse Olympique Crush Catalans Dragons 60-18

A landmark French derby reshapes the race in European Rugby League

French rugby league witnessed a historic evening at Pierre-Fabre Stadium in Castres as Toulouse Olympique produced an extraordinary display to defeat Catalans Dragons 60-18 during the inaugural French Magic Weekend.

The result was far more significant than a simple derby victory. It marked Toulouse’s first-ever Super League win over the Catalans and sent a powerful message to the rest of the competition. Fighting to secure their place among the elite, Sylvain Houles’ side combined attacking brilliance with relentless defensive intensity to completely outplay one of France’s most established rugby league clubs.

Three months after losing 33-26 in Perpignan, Toulouse responded in emphatic fashion, delivering arguably the club’s finest performance since returning to Super League.

A perfect response from Toulouse

The opening exchanges immediately reflected the intensity expected from the only all-French clash in the Super League calendar.

Thomas Lacans’ clever high kick created the opening opportunity as Luke Polselli capitalised on Nick Cotric’s handling mistake to score the first try after only eight minutes.

Catalans answered quickly through Kruise Leeming, whose sharp run from dummy-half briefly gave John Cartwright’s men the lead.

For nearly twenty minutes the contest remained balanced, with Catalans showing resilience despite Toulouse dominating possession and territory. Zac Lipowicz, Toby Sexton and Matthieu Laguerre combined to keep the visitors in front.

However, the momentum shifted dramatically before halftime.

Eight devastating minutes

The decisive period arrived midway through the first half.

Brendan Hands crossed first, followed shortly afterwards by Mathieu Jussaume and Thomas Lacans, each taking advantage of costly defensive errors from the Catalans.

The Dragons struggled to cope with Toulouse’s pace, support play and intelligent kicking game.

Just before halftime, Brendan Hands added another outstanding individual try, leaving the Catalans trailing 32-12 at the break.

The score accurately reflected Toulouse’s complete dominance across every area of the game.

Olly Ashall-Bott steals the show

If one player embodied Toulouse’s outstanding performance, it was undoubtedly Olly Ashall-Bott.

The English fullback delivered a masterclass in attacking rugby.

His acceleration, footwork and vision consistently exposed gaps in the Catalans’ defensive line. Every time he touched the ball, he created danger.

Ashall-Bott finished with a magnificent hat-trick while also providing decisive support runs and creating opportunities for his teammates.

His spectacular solo try midway through the second half, weaving through multiple defenders before scoring, will undoubtedly rank among the finest individual efforts of the 2026 Super League campaign.

Alongside him, Thomas Lacans expertly controlled field position with an outstanding kicking display, while Brendan Hands and Mathieu Jussaume punished every Catalans mistake close to the try line.

Catalans fail to respond

The Dragons attempted to launch a comeback immediately after halftime.

Toby Sexton crossed early in the second period to reduce the deficit and briefly offered hope.

Yet Toulouse remained composed.

Instead of retreating under pressure, the Olympique absorbed the Catalans’ attacks before striking ruthlessly on the counterattack.

Paul Ulberg added another try before Ashall-Bott completed his hat-trick. Mathieu Jussaume and Luke Polselli finished the demolition as Toulouse reached an astonishing total of sixty points.

Throughout the evening, Catalans struggled under the high ball, missed tackles in crucial areas and repeatedly lost defensive organisation.

The absence of several experienced players—including Da Costa, Makinson, Maria, Rogers-Smith and Russell—certainly weakened the squad, but it cannot fully explain such a comprehensive defeat.

A victory with European significance

Beyond local rivalry, the match illustrated the growing strength of French rugby league within the European game.

For many years, English clubs have dominated Super League. However, performances such as Toulouse’s demonstrate that French teams are increasingly capable of competing at the highest level.

Under Sylvain Houles, Toulouse has developed an ambitious playing identity built on speed, discipline and attacking creativity. Despite battling to secure their Super League status, the club continues to play attractive rugby while steadily improving its consistency.

For Catalans Dragons, the defeat represents a major setback.

Still aiming for a place in the Top Six and the playoff race, John Cartwright’s squad must quickly recover before facing league leaders Leeds Rhinos next weekend.

French Rugby League continues to grow

The first French Magic Weekend proved that domestic rivalries can become major attractions for European rugby league.

With twelve French players featuring on the field, passionate supporters in the stands and an entertaining spectacle lasting eighty minutes, the match showcased the development of the sport in France.

Toulouse Olympique’s historic 60-18 victory will be remembered not only because of the scoreline but also because of the quality of rugby displayed throughout the evening.

It confirmed that Toulouse has become a genuine Super League competitor capable of challenging established clubs, while reminding the Catalans that consistency remains essential in one of Europe’s most demanding rugby competitions.

As the regular season enters its decisive phase, Toulouse heads to St Helens full of confidence, while Catalans Dragons face an urgent challenge to restore belief before their crucial encounter with league leaders Leeds.

The French derby may have produced one clear winner, but for European rugby league, it also demonstrated that the sport continues to grow in quality, ambition and international appeal.