By extending its executives at least until 2027, with Antoine Dupont in the lead, Toulouse is showing its intention to reign over French and European rugby for the long term thanks to a talented and united generation, determined to mark the history of the club. Deprived at the last minute of the matches against the Wasps and the Stade Français, postponed because of the Covid-19, the Toulouse supporters still had, during this holiday season, some good reasons to be happy.

They have not finished seeing Dupont (25) orchestrating the game of their team and perforating the defenses of the Top 14: the international scrum half, recently named best world player of the year, extended by four seasons in the Pink City. His contract now runs until 2027, a World Cup year, like the new lease of Cyril Baille (28 years old) and François Cros (27 years old), while hooker Julien Marchand (26 years old) signed until 2028.

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Announced in recent days on the club’s social networks, with the slogan “2027 trajectory“, These extensions had already been tied for some time. “The communication game is always out of step with the reality of the facts“, Recognized the trainer Ugo Mola, commenting on Thursday these”very, very good news“.

“A lot has been done at the end of the double (European Cup-Championship) last season“, He explained. “We wanted to both project ourselves and continue to build around these players. Others will accompany them.“

We must probably look at the side of the French internationals at the end of the contract in 2023 to guess the names: the opener Romain Ntamack (22 years old), the hooker Peato Mauvaka (24 years old) or the back Thomas Ramos (26 years old) .

A young group with an average age of 24-25 years

“We believe in this group», Insists Mola. “He seems fairly consistent to us given his average age, which is around 24-25 years old, a few years without ending up with too old players, as we have known in the past.“

After winning three French league titles and a European Cup between 2008 and 2012, the Stadium to have won the Clerc, Dusautoir and others in advance, one experienced a slump after until its shield of Brennus 2019.

As talented as they are insatiable, the current generation, which signed a historic double in 2021, has the ambition to in turn leave an indelible mark on the Toulouse institution. “We know the history of the club and we want to try to do a little the same», Confirmed Marchand, captain of the Rouge et Noir alternating with Dupont. Their extensions, symbolically, were the first formalized last week.

“I am very happy to continue here», Underlined the international hooker. “The club is a great project for the future. There are a lot of young people and I have the impression that other players will stay too. Everyone wants to continue and have more great times together.“

The sign of an esprit de corps between the boys for the most part from the South-West, happy to be able to evolve at the highest level without straying too far from their relatives. “When I got this proposal I couldn’t see myself saying no», An insured Marchand. “I could even have signed for longer if that was possible. I am very well here, my family is not far away. The choice was very quick.The native of the Hautes-Pyrénées will be 33 years old at the end of his new contract in 2028. And undoubtedly a few more lines on his record.