Four players have joined Toulouse Olympique XIII for the Super League
Since winning the Championship final, Toulouse Olympique XIII, which will play in the Super League next season, has announced the recruitment of four players. Also, a youngster from the club’s training center signed his first pro contract with TO XIII. Le Journal Toulousain takes stock.
Toulouse Olympique XIII is making its market for the Super League. Indeed, since its victory in the Championship final on October 10, the City’s rugby union team has already announced the recruitment of four players. Also, a youngster from the club’s training center signed his first pro contract with the Blues and Whites.
TO XIII started with 27-year-old James Cunningham (pictured). This English player has spent most of his career in the elite championship. The president of the Toulouse team Bernard Sarrazain, in a press release, that with this new chapter which opens for our club, we must strengthen ourselves with experienced players, this is the case of James. At not even 30, he has a lot of Super League experience, and that’s what we’re looking for.
A player returns to Toulouse Olympique XIII ten years later
Toulouse Olympique also recorded the reinforcement “of the powerful Scottish international winger Matthew Russell, who has more than a hundred matches at the highest European level”, as the Toulouse club indicates. “Internationally, he has been involved in all the competitions played by the XIII of Scotland for a decade, and in particular the 2013 and 2017 World Cups.”
The TO XIII, Super League version, also sees the return of the English international pillar Gadwin Springer. “Ten years after having passed through the Toulouse Olympique XIII training center, he is returning to the Blues and Whites for their first season in the Super League,” rejoices the club. In the meantime, he notably passed the Catalan Dragons and the Tigers.
🚨 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 ✍
?? @ Gadwin04 back in @SuperLeague with the #TOXIII !
🇬🇧 Gadwin SPRINGER will be in Toulouse next season!#Together #WeAreInSuperLeague ??https://t.co/fVH9ZdnPvW
– Toulouse Olympique XIII (@TOXIII) November 3, 2021
First professional contract for a young person from the training center
For next year, Toulouse Olympique will also be able to count on the reinforcement of Christopher Hankinson English Center. He left the Wigan Warriors to join the Pink City club for both seasons. “At 27, the Wigan native has 22 Super League games and will therefore be looking to extend that number by taking part in the first season in TO history in the Super League,” said the team.
As a bonus, Toulouse Olympique XIII signed the first against pro of Toulouse Hugo Pezet, 21 years old. Originally from Albi, he was part of the club’s training center. “Hugo embodies the new generation of players who should make the French XIII shine in the years to come,” said Bernard Sarrazain. “The fact of joining the pro group rewards his work, but also that of all those who participated in his training, in the TO or in the clubs and structures where he has been.