Mourad Boudjellal’s star role in French revolution

Owen Slot looks at how Toulon’s controversial owner changed the face of the sport in France a decade ago and has since had a big impact on the global game

“There are no stars,” Mourad Boudjellal, the Toulon owner and president, said
yesterday of his team, which, of course, is utterly preposterous.

Toulon
contain a veritable galaxy.

When Jonny Wilkinson was in the team, he
continued, “he was not a star”.

Then came his punchline: “There is just one
star and that is me.

”

Certainly Boudjellal likes to share his players’ limelight.

With Toulon on the
verge today of being crowned …