Are Toulouse back?
- 1897
Toulouse's incredible run of form suggests the former European Giants are back.
The French side still holds the joint record for the most European titles won (4), however, their last title came back in 2010.
The Occitanie based side have enjoyed a fantastic start to the 2018/19 Champions Cup season winning their opening four games and have knocked over last season's champions at home.
All signs point to a revival of one of the most successful sides in European rugby.
Agen ✅
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) December 15, 2018
Bath ✅
Leinster ✅
Perpignan ✅
Bordeaux ✅
Pau ✅
Stade Francais ✅
Wasps ✅
Toulouse's longest winning streak in 7 years 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/yk2SXopY9f
Toulouse has made a few intelligent signings that have performed excellently so far this season and are likely to continue to do so.
The recent form from the likes of Maxime Medard, Yoann Huget and Maxime Mermoz will boost the side in the short term and help develop the youngsters coming through with likes of Thomas Ramos also showing he could be something special in the future.
Jerome Kaino who has certainly made his mark on the Red and Black jersey. The former All Black is in the twilight of his career but was regarded as one of the finest blindside flanks in his prime. Kaino brings a tremendous amount of experience to the side and has a lot of knowledge to share with a few youngsters, like Francois Cros, in the side that will benefit from it immensely. He also has a good few seasons in him.
Cheslin Kolbe has been one of the most dangerous outside backs in world rugby at the moment and has penned a deal with Toulouse until the end of the 2022/23 season. At the age of 25 and getting some test experience, Kolbe can only get better.
The feet on Cheslin Kolbe!
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) October 13, 2018
He's just sent two Bath players for hotdog's 🌭
"That's not fair! That's cruelty!" pic.twitter.com/j6q0BCwM6h
Turning to the youngsters, the likes of Antoine Dupont (22), Romain N'tamack(19), Thomas Ramos (23), Clement Castets (22), Julien Marchant (23), Florian Verhaeghe (21) and more have already shown they have what it takes to play at the highest level and will certainly be in the mix for the 2023 Rugby World Cup or even next year's showpiece.
All the quality in the world can be pointless if you don't have right people in the backroom but Toulouse seem to have found the right man in Ugo Mola who has improved the side ever since he took over in 2015.
With the recent success, it's likely Toulouse will not be shy to splash the cash in seasons to come and could become even better but the youth currently at the side they might not need too many test stars.
