Top 14 clubs face an unusual 2023/24 campaign – with a shortened pre-season, a faux kick-off, and a World Cup break.
THE Rugby World Cup in France is a lead-weight on the rubber sheet of the rugby universe.
It has warped the league system in Europe – no more so than in the host nation, where the Top 14 kicks off ferociously early with Bayonne-Toulouse on August 18. There’s three full rounds, then it cuts off after the third week of matches on the weekend of September 2. It returns on October 29 – the day after the World Cup is lifted in Saint-Denis.
The ProD2, for the record, kicks off a day earlier. But, unlike the Top 14, it carries on its merry five-weeks-on-one-week-off way regardless of the quantum singularity of the 20-nation, 48-match international tournament to decide the best rugby country in the world going on around it.
Even it has to dance around the calendar. Matchdays do not stick to their now-traditional Thursdays and Fridays as the second-tier of French professional menās rugby skirts the event horizon of RWC 2023.
But enough with the black hole sun metaphoricals. Thereās a Top 14 campaign to preview. We go, as always, club by club ahead of a season thatās going to be shaped by the success or failure of numerous new coaching set-ups, dealing with the effects of the World Cup.
Bayonne
Manager: Gregory Patat
Senior staff: Gerard Fraser, Joel Rey, Loic Louit, Nick Abendanon
Players in: Gela Aprasidze, Remi Bourdeau, Rodrigo Bruni, Aurelien Callandret, Vincent Giudicelli, Reece Hodge, Arthur Iturria, Federico Mori, Lucas Paulos, Kaminieli Rasaku (loan return), Apisalome Ratuniyarawa, Luke Tagi, Cheikh Tiberghien
Out: Geoffrey Cridge, Yann David, Arthur Duhau, Teiva Jacquelain, Mateaki Kafatolu, Jean Monribot, OJ Noa, Jason Robertson, Chris Talakai, Torsten Van Jaarsveld, Marland Yarde
Opening 3-match block: Toulouse (H), Toulon (A), Castres (A)
Itās tempting to delve straight into the ādifficult second seasonā cliche for Bayonne after a Top 14 return that, by all-but the most one-eyed of standards, exceeded expectations.
But Bayonne, with a first-ever Champions Cup berth secured at the first time of Top 14-return asking, have loftier ambitions as they enter the second year of a longer-term plan to establish the club as a permanent fixture in the French top flight.Ā
Their summer recruitment was made with the longer-term in mind. Homecoming backrow Arthur Iturria has all the domestic and international experience in the world, and is only 29; Cheikh Tiberghien is also heading back to his formative club, aged 23, with a sack of Clermont games under his belt.
If there is a weakness, it may be at fly-half. Ironically. Camille Lopez enjoyed a second summer on his arrival last season, but cover at 10 looks slim for the campaign to come. It seems Bayonne intend for Reece Hodge and, perhaps, Tom Spring to provide cover – theyāre far from the only Top 14 side to fudge fly-half options this season – but itās a tricky balancing act.
Bordeaux
Manager: Yannick Bru
Senior staff: Noel McNamara, Akvsenti Giorgadze, Christophe Lassucq, Thibault Giraud (after the World Cup), Heine Adams, Jean-Baptiste Poux
Players in: Paul Abadie, Adam Coleman, Arthur Duhau (World Cup joker), Marko Gazzotti, Raphael Lakafia (World Cup joker), Romain Latterrade, Theo Nanette, Damian Penaud, Alexandre Ricard, Connor Sa (loan return), Carlu Sadie (World Cup joker), Pete Samu, Ben Tapuai, Tavita Tatafu
Out: Santiago Cordero, Geoffrey Cros, Pablo Dimcheff, Renato Giammarioli, Jules Gimbert, Jean-Baptiste Lachaise (loan), RƩmi Lamerat, Gatien MassƩ, Federico Mori, Gabriel Oghre, Alban Roussel, Caleb Timu, Tom Willis, Hugo Zabalza
Opening 3-match block: Racing 92 (A), Castres (H), Toulon (H)
There are more questions than answers about Bordeauxās recruitment for the new season. Weāve known about Damian Penaudās arrival for some time – but thereās no denying it was a surprise when first announced. But his talent, and his likely impact are not in question, for all that it indicated in flashing neon that fan-favourite Santiago Cordero was exit-bound.
Centre Ben Tapuai and tighthead Carlu Sadie come with the new head coach Yannick Bru seal of approval from Sharks – but, other than Penaud, itās somewhat difficult to see how everyone will fit in.
Another Bru favourite, Bayonneās Arthur Duhau, is hoping to do enough to land a longer-term contract after the World Cup. At 34, centre Tapuai isnāt a long-term option in midfield; Paul Abadie was a fortunate luxury signing as cover for Maxime Lucu and Yann Lesgourges – though, right now heās the only fit and available senior scrum-half on the books as Bordeaux look for a medical joker for the injured Lesgourges. Pete Samu, Tevita Tatafu and World Cup joker Raphael Lakafia look a lot like an attempt to Moneyball Tom Willis.
It all smells a lot like recruitment on the fly, after president Laurent Marti parted company with Christophe Urios, and his lieutenants, Frederic Charrier and Julien Lairle were put in temporary charge pending Bruās arrival. This could be a difficult season for Bordeaux.
Castres
Manager: Jeremy Davidson
Senior staff: David Darricarrere, Steven Setephano, Karena Wihongi, Yannick Caballero, Romain Teulet
Players in: Joris Dupont (loan return), Jack Goodhue, NathanaĆ«l Hulleu Romain Macurdy, Abraham Papaliāi, Yann Peysson, Pierre Popelin, Loris Zarantonello
Out: Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Julien Blanc, Dorian Clerc, Thomas Combezou, Antoine Guillamon, ThĆ©o Hannoyer, Brice Humbert, Rory Kockott, KĆ©vin Kornath, Thomas Larregain, Brendan Lebrun, Paula NāGauamo, Benjamin Urdapilleta
Opening 3-match block: Pau (H), Bordeaux (A), Bayonne (H)
Replacing cult hero Benjamin Urdapilleta, who has joined Clermont, was never going to be easy, bordering on impossible – so Castres didnāt even try, preferring to ārecreate him in the aggregateā (note the cunning sidestep of a Moneyball repetition, there) while pinning their hopes on a longer term prospect.
Pierre Popelin, from La Rochelle, could be a smart signing, contrary to some fansā reservations, but Castresā fly-half future is heavily invested in former France under-20 international Louis Lebrun.
And Jack Goodhueās arrival after the World Cup – a eyebrow-lifter of a flagship signing as Castres arenāt shy of midfield options – opens the door to more Vilimoni Botitu fireworks at out-half.
Coach Jeremy Davidson, who arrived in February, has beefed up certain areas, signing Abraham Papaliāi from former club Brive, to improve his backrow options. But the key challenge for the club is getting the basics to work. Castres reached the Top 14 final in 2022 despite a dysfunctional line-out and a trick scrum. A large part of their struggles last season were down to a dysfunctional line-out and a trick scrum. Get those right, and the club will see their points tally head back up into top six territory.
Clermont
Manager: Christophe Urios
Senior staff: FrĆ©dĆ©ric Charrier, AurĆ©lien Rougerie, Julien LaĆÆrle, Ian Vass
Players in: Folau Faingaāa, Pierre Fouyssac, Chris Gabriel, Joris Jurand, Henzo Kiteau (loan return), Marcos Kremer, Thomas Roziere (loan return), Enzo Sanga, Rob Simmons, Pita-Gus Sowakula, Caleb Timu (World Cup joker), Benjamin Urdapilleta
Out: Edward Annandale, Jean-Pascal Barraque, JudicaĆ«l Cancoriet, Samuel Ezeala, LoĆÆc Godener, Arthur Iturria, Davit Kubriashvili, Gabin Michet (loan) Apisai Naqalevu, Adrien PĆ©lissiĆ©, Damian Penaud, Valentin Simutoga, Cheikh Tiberghien, SĆ©bastien Vahaamahina, Jaco Van Tonder, KĆ©vin Viallard (loan)
Opening 3-match block: Oyonnax (A), Perpignan (H), La Rochelle (H)
French tyre giant Michelin – already very heavily involved in the club – stepped in to become Clermontās sole shareholder earlier this summer, pulling the club back from the brink of troublingly serious acute financial issues.
Financial future secured, the plan is to improve on-pitch fortunes, after Jono Gibbes became, last December, the first coach the club has sacked since 2004.
After finishing the campaign with Gibbesā staff, new boss Christophe Urios has now recreated Clermontās coaching set-up in his image. Heās brought in former Bordeaux sidekicks Frederic Charrier and Julien Lairle, and conditioning coaches Mourad Abed and Salim Aouiche to Marcel Michelin.
And he raided Bordeaux for a World Cup joker in the form of backrow Caleb Timu – who can, apparently, stay-on at the club through to the November 18 limit of his short-term contract – despite Peceli Yatoās pre-tournament return after leaving the Fiji squad.
But Uriosās key hope is in another member of his private Tried and Trusted club. He needs more consistency off the tee and more nous and grit at 10. Itās why heās turned, once again, to Benjamin Urdapilleta, who he had taken from Oyonnax to Castres, and had tried to tempt from Castres to Bordeaux.
La Rochelle
Manager: Ronan OāGara
Senior staff: SƩbastien Boboul, Romain Carmignani, Donnacha Ryan, Remi Tales, Gurthrƶ Steenkamp
Players in: Judicaƫl Cancoriet, Archer Holz (World Cup joker), Teddy Iribaren, Jack Nowell, Billy Pollard (World Cup joker loan), Akuila Tabualevu (World Cup joker), Ihaia West
Out: Martin Alonso, LĆ©o Aouf, RĆ©mi Bourdeau, Pierre Boudehent, Harry Glynn, Kyle Hatherell, Samuel Lagrange, Jules Le Bail, Victor Olivier, Pierre Popelin, Romain Sazy, Hayden Thompson-Stringer
Opening 3-match block: Montpellier (A), Lyon (H), Clermont (A)
Two-time Champions Cup winners. Two-time unsuccessful Top 14 finalists. Thereās still a domestic title gap in Ronan OāGaraās head coach CV that he wants, even needs, to fill.
The ambition remains unchanged, then. OāGara craves a French title with La Rochelle. Crucially, he seems confident that he has the squad – despite World Cup absences – to do it.
He probably has, too. Fly-half Hugo Reus, backrow Oscar Jegou, and prop Louis Penverne came of age in the World Rugby U20 Championships in South Africa in July, while Jack Nowellās arrival spices up an already pretty fruity back three. Teddy Iribaren gives Tawera Kerr-Barlow a crucial break, while West and quick-learner Reus have Antoine Hastoyās back.
Nowell also allows Raymond Rhule to fill in at centre more often – where, as at fullback, La Rochelle appear a little shy in the short-term. And it was interesting to note that the ex-Exeter man first appeared in La Rochelle colours in a pre-season match in midfield.
Things might be a bit tricky early on, but when OāGara gets his World Cup players back, expect points to flood into their league tally.
Lyon
Manager: Fabien Gengenbacher
Senior staff: Coenie Basson, Julien Puricelli, AB Zondagh, Arnaud HĆ©guy
Players in: Thaakir Abrahams, Monty Ioane, Paddy Jackson, Santiago Mendrano (World Cup joker) Pierre-Samuel Pacheco, Martin Page-Relo, Pierre PagĆØs (World Cup joker), Semi Radradra, Vincent Rattez, Alban Roussel, Valentin Simutoga
Out: Nathan Farissier (loan), Francisco Gomez Kodela, Temo Mayanavanua, Noa Nakaitaci, Jonathan PƩlissiƩ, Liam Rimet (loan), Patrick Sobela, Lima Sopoaga, Josua Tuisova, Tavite Veredamu
Opening 3-match block: Toulon (H), La Rochelle (A), Pau (A)
Another club, another major coaching change. Lyon reached the play-offs last season – but apparently insurmountable internal issues meant coach Xavier Garbajosa was shown the exit after less than a year in charge.
Which means that Lyon are onto their third head coach in three campaigns, as former Grenoble chief Fabien Gengenbacher takes charge at a club he played at for a single season in 2005/06.
Crucially, Gengenbacher was a post-season appointment by club president Yann Roubert. He had been due to move from the sideline to the boardroom at Grenoble – until the ProD2 side came within an appeal of relegation for financial reasons.
Instead, his Lyon learning curve in a short pre-season has been undeniably steep. He will, no doubt, benefit from and be grateful for the two-step World Cup-year Top 14 season.
Expect, then, Lyon to keep things pretty simple and direct as Gengenbacher finds a team to rebuild from a squad that he has inherited.
Montpellier
Manager: Richard Cockerill
Senior staff: Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, Benson Stanley, Neil McIlroy
Players in: Auguste Cadot, Alexandre De Nardi, Martin Doan (loan return), Baptiste Erdocio, Luka Japaridze, Vano Karkadze, Tolu Latu, Lasha Macharashvili, Logovi’i Mulipola (World Cup joker), BenoĆ®t Paillaugue (World Cup joker), DāArcy Rae (medical joker), Sam Simmonds, Harry Williams
Out: Gela Aprasidze, Vincent Giudicelli, Mohamed Haouas, Curtis Langdon, Romain Macurdy, JƩrƩmie Maurouard, Zach Mercer, Vincent Rattez, Henry Thomas
Opening 3-match block: La Rochelle (H), Toulouse (A), Stade Francais (A)
Itās time for change at Montpellier, too, after titles papered over the cracks of a damaging couple of seasons.
There was a brush with relegation, a longer-than-anticipated sideline intervention from director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre, and Challenge Cup success in 2020/21; the Top 14 title in 21/22; and then a disappointing defence in 22/23, when – for the first time – neither of the two finalists from the previous season reached the play-offs.
Now, Saint-Andre – who never intended to be in charge of day-to-day first-team affairs as long as he was – has returned to his suited-and-booted role. Richard Cockerill has arrived from the England set-up as sporting manager, while Jean-Baptiste Elissalde is head coach. Intriguingly, former Clermont and Catalans coach Neil McIlroy has come on board as sporting director, in an additional layer of management that suggests more behind-the-scenes changes are afoot.
BenoĆ®t Paillaugue, meanwhile, returns after a single season at Toulon on a World Cup joker contract as a springboard into the coaching set-up; with Sam Simmonds, Harry Williams, and Tolu Latu – a late signing after Luke Cowan-Dickieās planned move fell through – the big-name arrivals.
But Cockerill is the key appointment. He has promised an Anglo-Saxon work ethic and āphysical rugbyā from his squad as they seek to regain lost respect after their āfailedā champions season – not to mention some consistency. The target? Top six. It has to be.
Oyonnax
Manager: Joe El Abd
Senior staff: Vincent Debaty, Fabien Cibray, Dewald Senekal
Players in: Ethan Clusel, Leva Fifita, LoĆÆc Godener, Daniel Ikpefan, Ewan Johnson, Kevin Kornath, Lucas Mensa, Domingo Miotti, Ali Oz, Jonathan Ruru, Maxime Salles, Christopher Vaotoa
Out: AurƩlien Callandret, Victor Delmas, Gabriel Favier, Paul GadƩa JƩrƩmy Gondrand, Thomas Laclayat, Gabiriele Lovobalavu, Tom Murday, Florian Vialelle
Opening 3-match block: Clermont (H), Stade Francais (A), Toulouse (H)
Bayonne shattered then remoulded the template for new Top 14 sides last season – not since Racing in 2009 went from straight from promotion to play-offs has a ProD2 interloper got so close to the top six as Bayonne did last season.
It would, however, be a mistake for Oyonnax to mark their return season in comparison to heights Bayonne climbed. The first priority has to be survival. Anything else is gravy.
Thatās not to say Joe El Abdās side wonāt spring a few shocks. They will. And theyāll want to make Stade Charles Mathon as strong a fortress in the Top 14 as it was in the ProD2.
Theyāve recruited as well as time and resources allowed, given the late confirmation of their promotion as ProD2 champions. A good start to the campaign would help, but they open with home matches against Clermont and Toulouse, and a trip to Stade Francais before the Top 14 breaks for the World Cup. Itās not quite as difficult as it gets, but itās near enough.
Pau
Manager: Sebastien Piqueronies
Senior staff: Thomas Choveau, Thomas Domingo, Geoffrey Lanne-Petit, Antoine Nicoud
Players in: Samuel Ezeala, Facundo Gigena, Hayden Thompson-Stringer (World Cup joker), Mehdi Tlili, Joe Simmonds, Sam Whitelock
Out: Eoghan Barrett, Santiago Grondona, Daniel Ikpefan, Zack Henry, Jordan Joseph, Clovis Le Bail, Vincent Pinto, Yvan Reilhac, Maks Van Dyk
Opening 3-match block: Castres (A), Racing 92 (H), Lyon (H)
Letās call Pauās summer recruitment what it is: smart. Sam Whitelock, Joe Simmonds, and Hayden Thompson-Stringer – the latter on a World Cup joker deal through to mid-November – all bring huge amounts of experience and nous.
Combined with the young talent coming through – newly crowned World U20 champions ClĆ©ment Mondinat, Hugo Auradou, ThĆ©o Attissogbe, and Brent Liufau are all charging through the academy ranks, while Emilien Gailleton missed the tournament in South Africa because he was called up to the senior squad – itās easy to see why thereās a quiet confidence at Stade du Hameau.
But with all that talent, all that promise, and all that imported rugby intelligence comes added pressure. Pau have never finished higher than eighth in the Top 14. Last season, they finished 12th. Eighth has to be the minimum target this season.
Perpignan
Manager: Franck Azema
Senior staff: David Marty, Guillaume Vilaceca, Perry Freshwater, Gerald Bastide
Players in: Tommaso Allan, Jean-Pascal Barraque, Ewan Bertheau (loan return), Pietro Ceccarelli, Louis Dupichot, Soāotala Faāasoāo, JĆ©rĆ©mie Maurouard (World Cup joker), Apisai Naqalevu, Marvin Orie, Nemo Roelofse, Ignacio Ruiz, Patrick Sobela, Tavite Veredamu, Jaco Van Tonder
Out: Piula Faasalele, Patricio Fernandez, Maāafu Fia, Siua Halanukonuka, Dorian Laborde, Genesis Mamea Lemalu, AndreĆÆ Mahu, Mike Tadjer, Brad Shields, Tristan Tedder, George Tilsley, Will Witty
Opening 3-match block: Stade Francais (H), Clermont (A), Racing 92 (A)
The last act of former Perpignan manager Patrick Arlettaz, who is to replace Laurent Labit in Fabien Galthieās France set-up after the World Cup, was to ensure his clubās survival in the Top 14 via the promotion-relegation play-off for the second year in a row.
The Catalansā attack was a genuine strong point of their game last season – theyāll miss Arlettazās invention, there.
Sensibly, however, new manager Franck Azema has opted for an evolution of his predecessorās plans. He has inherited Arlettazās coaching staff – and has brought Scott Crean and Brice Puthod into the S&C set-up.Ā
The longer-term goal at Stade Aime Giral is to build a squad around the rapidly developing talent of Posolo Tuilagi, who recently signed a contract extension through to 2026. If Perpignan can do that, they will become a genuinely daunting proposition in the seasons to come.
It will be a quiet build. Although Tuilagi is the focus, the club remains the star of the show, as far as Azema is concerned.
The shorter-term goal, to finish out of the bottom two and avoid a third relegation play-off match against the losing ProD2 finalist.
Racing 92
Manager: Stuart Lancaster
Senior staff: Dimitri Szarzewski, Frederic Michalak, Paul Stridgeon, Tom Whitford
Players in: Henry Arundell, James Hall, Jordan Joseph (loan return), Siya Kolisi, Will Griff John (World Cup joker), Thomas Laclayat, Clovis Le Bail, Wame Naituvi, Will Rowlands, Tristan Tedder, Josua Tuisova
Out: Biyi Alo, Anton Bresler, Louis Dupichot, Warrick Gelant, Regan Grace, Teddy Iribaren, Jonathan MaĆÆau, Ali Oz, Finn Russell, Asaeli Tuivuaka, Ben Volavola
Opening 3-match block: Bordeaux (H), Pau (A), Perpignan (H)
Major coaching changes at Racing. Laurent Travers has moved upstairs. Stuart Lancaster is now in charge, and working with Dimitri Szarzewski, Freddie Michalak and fitness guru Paul Stridgeon – who was once reportedly a target for France.
Major moves, too, in the playing department. Siya Kolisi is the big name arrival, after the World Cup, while Josua Tuisova and Wame Naituvi are also notable arrivals. As is the return of Jordan Joseph. But watch out for tighthead Thomas Laclayat, who has joined from Oyonnax – there are several reasons he keeps getting called up to the France squad.
Meanwhile, Tristan Tedder has been handed the job of replacing Finn Russell. It wonāt be an easy task, but – while heās flown a little under the radar – Tedder is not to be underestimated. Nevertheless, Racing keep being linked to other big-name 10s – Manie Libbock recently reportedly rejected a move to France. It canāt be easy being a fly-half at Plessis-Robinson.
In fact, thereās less star-quality in the halfbacks all round than weāve been used to at Racing. But that just might work in Racingās – and Stuart Lancasterās – favour.
The managerās big job? Get the most out of a talented roster of players that – despite reaching the play-offs for 13 consecutive seasons is guilty of repeated underperformance.
Stade Francais
Managers: Laurent Labit and Karim Ghezal (after Rugby World Cup)
Senior staff: Paul Gustard, Morgan Parra, Kobus Potgieter, James Kent
Players in: Pierre Boudehent, Tanginoa Halaifonua, Zack Henry, Jules Gimbert, Rory Kockott (World Cup joker), Joe Marchant, Hugo NāDiaye (loan return), Andy Timo, Brad Weber, Hugo Zabalza
Out: Alex Arrate, Arthur Coville, ThƩo Dachary, Harry Glover, James Hall, Vincent Koch, Marcos Kremer, Paolo Odogwu, Morgan Parra, Nemo Roelofse, Sitaleki Timani, Sione Tui
Opening 3-match block: Perpignan (A), Oyonnax (H), Montpellier (H)
Another season, another new start for Stade Francais – though in many ways, this time, you have to wonder why. Gonzalo Quesada, in his second stint at Jean Bouin, looked to have rediscovered the winning spark.
The trick – had he stayed on – would have been to turn it into a steady flame. In his first season back, in 2020-21, he took them to sixth. They ended the following campaign in 11th. But last season, they finished fourth. And only Toulouse and La Rochelle conceded fewer points.
But owner Hans-Peter Wild had other ideas. Quesada was released from his contract a year early, and current France coaches Laurent Labit and Karim Ghezal will arrive after Franceās World Cup interest ends. Until then, with pressing matters occupying their minds, Paul Gustard heads up the coaching staff.
How much Labit and Ghezal will be able to do when they finally arrive remains to be seen. It may not be much more than tinkering around the edges this season. Either way, itās a new era at Stade Francais. Again.
Toulon
Manager: Pierre Mignoni
Senior staff: Sergio Parisse, Eric Dasalmartini, Romain Poite, Andrea Masi, Maxime Petitjean, Richie Gray, Pierre Dantin, Mathieu Bastareaud
Players in: Esteban Abadie, Leicester Faingaāanaku, Enzo HervĆ©, Alun Wyn Jones (World Cup joker), Noah Lolesio (World Cup joker), Noa Nakaitaci (World Cup joker), David Ribbans, Selevasio Tolofua, Setariki Tuicuvu (World Cup joker), Ben White, Micky Young, Yannick Youyoutte
Out: Mathieu Bastareaud, Florian Fresia, Gervais Cordin, Cheslin Kolbe, Raphaƫl Lakafia, Sergio Parisse, BenoƮt Paillaugue, Thomas Salles, Atila Septar, Ihaia West
Opening 3-match block: Lyon (A), Bayonne (H), Bordeaux (A)
So near, so far for Pierre Mignoniās Toulon last season. Seventh place and a Champions Cup berth, courtesy of the tournamentās current almost incomprehensible pool set-up, is all well and good. But Toulon want more. They want top six and to be in the hunt for the Bouclier de Brennus.Ā
This season, Mignoniās on his own, with Franck Azema leaving for the hotseat at Perpignan. And failure is not an option. Heās got the squad – even his World Cup joker signings are impressive. Heās got the set-up – Toulonās training camp is as good as they come these days. And heās got the coaching staff.
Last season, Toulon relied heavily on their imported stars – there has to be a certain sympathy there. But they were close to being docked points for missing the JIFF minimum average. Mignoni wonāt want to find himself in a similar position this season – but heāll have to resist a fair amount of temptationā¦
Toulouse
Manager: Ugo Mola
Senior staff: Clement Poitrenaud, Jean Bouilhou, Laurent Thuery, Virgile Lacombe, Jerome Kaino, Jerome Cazalbou
Players in: Max Auriac (World Cup joker loan) LĆ©o Banos (World Cup joker loan), Setareki Bituniyata (World Cup joker), Owen Franks (World Cup joker), Piula Faasalele (World Cup joker), Baptiste Germain (loan return), Nepo Laulala, Kakeru Okumura (World Cup joker loan), Billy Searle (World Cup joker), George Tilsley (World Cup joker)
Out: Charlie Faumuina, Pierre Fouyssac, Paul Mallez (loan), Tim Nanai-Williams, Martin Page-Relo, Selevasio Tolofua, Yannick Youyoutte
Opening 3-match block: Bayonne (A), Montpellier (H), Oyonnax (A)
Toulouse will look nothing like traditional Toulouse in the early exchanges of a 2023/24 campaign that – by its split-start, short run-in nature – will rely heavily on cohesion and understanding that only comes about as a result of time together.
Head coach Ugo Mola will be without the services of most or all of Baille, Marchand, Mauvaka, Aldegheri, Flament, Arnold, Cros, Willis, Dupont, Ramos, Jaminet, Ahki, Chocobares, Mallia or Capuozzo when the season kicks off, or on its immediate resumption after the World Cup.
Roman Ntamack, meanwhile, is absent for several months with knee ligament damage, leaving the club scrabbling for cover. Quade Cooper, recently left out of Australia’s World Cup 33-player squad, has been mentioned in dispatches.
But Molaās the epitome of phlegmatic and pragmatic. A combination of World Cup jokers and young players – including three under-20 World Championship winners – on near-vertical learning curves are, he believes, prepping the club for a longer haul as they tread water for the first three months of the season, waiting for those players to return to the fold.
Then, thereās the 2024 Six Nations, when heāll be without a fair few of his stars all over again. Safe to say, itās going to be an interesting season for the defending champions. And donāt mention Antoine Dupontās apparent desire to play for France Sevens in the Olympics.
My name is James Harrington. Iām a freelance sports journalist based in France, writing mostly about French club and international rugby. If, after reading this, you feel the urge to commission me for match previews, reviews, articles, news, features, interviews, live blogs, feel free to contact me
And, please read my weekly French rugby column in The Rugby Paper every Sunday. And I also round-up all the weekendās Top 14 action on the Irish Examiner website.
James Harrington: Rugby writer and freelance sports journalist 
James Harrington: Rugby writer and freelance sports journalist
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