Volkswacht Bodensee - Toulouse eye Top 14 history after 'difficult' summer

Antoine Dupont and the superstar-filled champions kick-off their season at La Rochelle on Sunday, fresh from a chastening financial sanction.

Last week, Toulouse were handed a reduced 2.725 million euros ($3.15 million) fine for salary cap breaches, as well as for a lack of transparency and co-operation with the league's governing body.

They have long faced accusations of breaching salary cap rules.

"This team has the chance to make its mark in a competition that has never been so tough and competitive," head coach Ugo Mola told Monday's edition of the specialist rugby newspaper Midi Olympique.

"The club has already experienced difficult moments and has often recovered thanks to the quality of its academy.

"Toulouse have never installed systematic cheating."

However, the salary cap sanction has had a major impact.

Toulouse face the imminent loss of two key figures: full-back Thomas Ramos, 31, and flanker Francois Cros, 32.

Both announced earlier this summer that they would leave the club at the end of the season, with salary cap restrictions playing a part in their decisions, sending shockwaves through French rugby.

They are the only two Toulouse players to have featured in all eight Top 14 and Champions Cup finals won by the club since 2019.

"I have too much respect for the men and the players to reduce their choices to a simple question of money," said Mola.

"We don't tell players how much we love them enough, maybe due to shyness.

"Sometimes, that's all they're waiting for.

"Unfortunately, we didn't manage to do it. I'm annoyed with myself on that score," added the 53-year-old.

- Fickou ambition -

Champions Cup holders Bordeaux-Begles again look to be one of Toulouse's main rivals, as do last season's losing Top 14 finalists Montpellier.

Pau and Toulon look well-placed to also be in the mix.

Jonny Wilkinson's former side Toulon missed out on the play-offs last season but have recruited smartly during the summer, bringing in experienced France prop Rabah Slimani, Scotland centre Huw Jones and veteran Les Bleus midfielder Gael Fickou.

The 32-year-old hopes that a return to his boyhood region will help him regain a spot in Fabien Galthie's squad for next year's World Cup.

He has been stuck on 98 Test caps since November after missing out on the Six Nations and this summer's Nations Championship campaign.

"Fabien Galthie will only select the best," Fickou told AFP last week.

"I've worked hard, I'm ready physically, now I just have to show it on the field."

Towards the other end of the table, Vannes have been promoted straight back to the Top 14 after one season in the second division, while Perpignan, who have featured in the relegation play-off four times in the past five seasons, have made headlines with their recruitment.

The former All Black pair of Braydon Ennor and Sevu Reece have arrived at the Catalans after trophy-laden spells with the Crusaders.

Moving abroad, they have ended their hopes of a place in New Zealand's World Cup set-up.

"It was a very tough decision," winger Reece told reporters last week.

"I had other clubs interested. My wife told me: 'Imagine you go to Perpignan, and bring them up the table'.

"I liked that challenge. I believe we can create something special here."

B.Baumann--VB