Don't agree, it's not a 'French thing'.

Toulouse are seriously good side when Ford and Robin are involved but cover is needed to avoid the same problem next season. A decent replacement for Ford would have been enough to get 2nd or 3rd place. Danny Richardson was due to join from Saints to fill Ford's spot but club committments meant he couldn't come.
The line between success and missing out is very fine at times.

So no other team will be recruiting before the next season starts??

Plus most will be part time, and every team pick up injuries. Not just Toulouse

The team(s) dropping down will be strong, London have signed a few players yet to be announced so will be stronger. Don't underestimate the championship Jean although I accept you like to be provocative.

If Toulouse, Toronto and London will all be promoted to Super League in 2019 I will be delighted. So will Sky. Thus the RFL needs to facilitate that massive reformation of Super League by bringing back licensing.

Who ever comes down or goes up it should be a cracking Championship next season.

What he is saying, in his own provocative trolling fashion, is that Halifax (unless they find some serious money from somewhere) are never going to get promoted and probably don't want to get promoted. Which is fine in itself, but their place in the middle 8's is ultimately just an exercise in making up the numbers. At full strength I'd fancy Toulouse's chances against the worst SL teams (including Catalans) but the fans acknowledge the lack of squad depth was a big mistake and a very costly one.

It was indeed a cracking game and it was annoying to see Maurel doing well yet again at fullback. Houles refused to play him at fb when Ford and Robin were out, which cost them a top four place of course. Maurel would have done the job and Kheirallah could have slotted in at no.7 with Marion at no.6. Wasted opportunity which I hope the TO coach is now acknowledging though I doubt he'll admit to..

Terrific Toulouse had a narrow 38-34 win over swindling Swinton Lions on Saturday.

Toulouse was without regular full back Mark Kheirallah, and regular half back Stanislas Robin, as well as centre Gavin Marguerite and others.

Houles rested Kheirallah, Canet, Andrew Bentley, Marguerite, Marion whilst Robin has an injury.
Young Jouffret played at no.7 and had his best game to date. Kriouache and Bouzinac alternated at hooker and Puech started at prop alongside Boyer. Maurel did well at FB and looked solid kicking too. Perez looks a good player. Two or three players being looked at for next season. Still not convinced Nzoungou is up to the job. Ford got his yellow card on 57 and didn't come back by which time the defence was a shambles allowing Swinton back into the game.

Jean - your finger appears to be relatively close to the pulse on all things RL in France, including Toulouse. Realistically, what should their aims for next season be?

I visited Toulouse in March yet unfortunately they were playing Fev at Fev the weekend I was there. I would quite like to visit a few of their games next season.

In what way we're Swinton swindling

Nzoungou likely to be at Salford next year

Done deal from what I've heard

he's not really standing out in the Championship at this point, so I'll assume he will be sent out on loan. raw potential definitely there, but yet to be realised

Levy is 19 years old and has less than 10 senior appearances, not sure what you're expecting from him.

I think that the club must find a talented utility who can cover the halves when Jonathan Ford or Stanislas Robin are injured, and maybe even cover full back. But finding talent as mere cover is not easy when you are playing at Championship level.

The club might also profit from one more quality forward of near NRL standard, to accompany new signing Samuel Rapira.

If they can do both things then I think that they are assured of a Middle 8s position in 2018, and thus a chance of promotion to Super League. But I have no illusions that promotion to Super League will be easy, because of the intense competition that will come from Toronto, and London, and the current Super League team that will be demoted on September 30.

Rumour is that Stan Robin is going back to the Catalans.

That would make sense given the impending loss of Richard Myler to Leeds, and possible loss of Luke Walsh to Salford.

All the more reason for Toulouse to be looking in Australia. Joshua McCrone was no great buy by Toronto, but he should do OK in the Championship. Toulouse needs someone at least of McCrone's quality, plus a utility cover, assuming Stanislas Robin's departure.

Lucas. Joshua.

I read somewhere else that he was 23 .. :3. Well at 19 he looks very decent at Championship level so I take it back!!

He's staying at T.O Sanj

So does today's result mean that Toulouse has won the Championship Shield?

Nuh, they play the winner of tomorrows game Batley/Sheffield

Ah right! Wasn't sure if it was the final or not haha!

That's good news Phil.

Young Jouffret looks pretty good at the moment, he was MOM today. Will he stay with TO if the Cats go down ?