Toulouse: chased from their Bazacle ground, TEC rugby fears for its future
The last rugby club in downtown Toulouse must leave its historic stadium located at Bazacle. A heartbreak for the TEC which has flourished there for 65 years.
The last of the last for the TEC? The last game of the season at home for the Toulouse Electrogaz club (TEC) yesterday had a more than special flavor. The “yellow and black” may indeed tread the lawn of the Bazacle, the club’s historic site, for the last time. For 65 years now, the TEC has been based in the Bazacle sports area, in Toulouse, on the banks of the Garonne, between the Saint-Cyprien district and the Amidonniers. Born in 1957 from the former EDF-GDF sports centre, Toulouse Electrogaz has stood the test of time and generations, but its grounds, the only one in the city centre, are not as good. Last December, the club received a letter from the Ligue d’Occitanie stating that the sports arena on the banks of the Garonne no longer meets federal standards. The Bazacle is thus put on notice. And the Técistes, them, homeless. Approaching the field, the observation is clear. The areas of dried mud are present in majority, the grass it is rare. “It is massively used this ground, we train there, we receive the adversaries there but it remains our ground and we do not want to lose it”, notes Philippe Bapt, co-president of the club.
To come back home”
Saddened by this news sent by the League, he still wanted to “party” for this last match. Between two handshakes, friendly gestures and a few jokes, Philippe Bapt took the time yesterday to make a speech at the microphone in front of a crowd of club members, players and friends. “Here, we are a family, all generations are represented, but in a family we sometimes experience difficult times and happy times”. Before the start of the match between the Toulouse team and the Ariégeois from Lavelanet, under a shy sun and a strong wind, like a village festival, the members of the TEC in a way said goodbye to their lair. Everyone hopes to return to play “at home” with a brand new pitch and approved infrastructure. But to touch this dream with your finger, you need money. And the TEC, association law 1901, does not have the funds to finance a ground, property of EDF-GDF.
And the TEC has arguments to make. A labeled rugby school with 200 licensed children, cadet and junior teams, a well-placed reserve team… “We are not a living club, we have well-ranked teams, many licensees, I think elected officials can help us to find a solution. We cannot leave a club of four hundred members on the side of the road. “But while waiting for a possible upgrading, the TEC wants to know its future playground for the coming season.