Six Important Things To Know About Toulouse Rugby Before Leinster Match
Six Important Things To Know About Toulouse Rugby Before Leinster Match
Stade Toulousain enters the 2024 Investec Champions Cup Final hoping to cement itself as the best EPCR team of all-time. Here's what to know.
Toulouse Rugby, or Stade Toulousain, is looking to distance itself from the rest of the European Professional Club Rugby field when they take on Leinster in the 2024 Investec Champions Cup Final at 9:45 a.m. EST on May 25 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
The French power, and defending Top 14 champions, has the most EPCR cups with five. The first coming in Cardiff, Wales during the inaugural Final. From 1996 to 2010, Toulouse won four Champions Cup titles before enduring an 11-year drought that saw other clubs like Leinster and Toulon dominate the Champions Cup field.
But armed with possibly the best rugby player in the world, and one who FloRugby analyst Philip Bendon said could become the best player of the professional era, Antoine Dupont, Toulouse broke through and won the 2021 Champions Cup.
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In the last two years, Toulouse has lost to Leinster Rugby in empathic fashion as the dominant Dublin club out of the United Rugby Championship cruised to the Final.
And each time Leinster was unable to match Toulouse’ five Champions Cup as they lost to La Rochelle.
All that recent history comes to a head in 2024 as what could be one of the best Champions Cup Finals ever is set for this weekend.
"Last season was as pretty great as are most seasons!” Bendon said of the Champions Cup Final. “But 2024 is the best match up we could have hoped for on so many fronts. Firstly, these are the two greatest sides in the competition’s history and this final is an opportunity for either Leinster to pull level or Toulouse to go two clear.
“Secondly, they were the best two teams throughout the pool stage (Northampton were a close third) and finally both teams have some of the best players in the world in every position.”
Here are six things to know about the Toulouse rugby team.
Toulouse Rugby Is Seeking Its Second Straight Major Championship
No, they didn’t win the Champions Cup last year. But they did beat 2023 Champions Cup winner La Rochelle in the Top 14 Final last June for their third title since 2019. If all goes well, Toulouse could end the month of June as winners of two Top 14 titles and a Champions Cup.
Bendon said that Toulouse, who currently leads the Top 14 table, is the favorite to win the domestic league, but it'll be difficult.
“For Toulouse, the Top 14 is ultra competitive and whilst their focus will be on winning a Champions Cup, their rivals will be resting and preparing for a tough push towards the end of the season,” Bendon said of Toulouse’ 2024 Top 14 title hopes.
Toulouse entered the Champions Cup in December as the betting favorite to win it, but they were slightly ahead of Leinster Rugby in that regard.
But now?
Toulouse Is The Underdog vs Leinster Rugby. Why That Could Be A Good Sign
According to most gambling sites in Europe, Leinster Rugby is the favorite to win the Investec Champions Cup Final.
Currently Toulouse is +100 to beat Leinster, who is -125 on most sites to win.
That may be the kiss of death for Leinster who was the Finals favorite in each of the last two years against another Top 14 power, La Rochelle. Both times Leinster held leads only to see them be dominated physically late in the game by La Rochelle.
“It is true that Leinster entered the last two seasons of favorites,” Bendon said. “However the warning signs were there prior to both finals. It is rare that Leinster loses matches in the regular season as their uptempo and slick interplay normally shreds teams when the pressure is slightly off.
"Historically however their Achilles Heel has been big physical packs who wear them out across the contest.”
Toulouse won’t have the large, powerful line that La Rochelle, which employs Will Skelton (among others), but the club is rarely in the underdog role.
Antoine Dupont Leads Toulouse. He Could Be The Best Rugby Player In The World
If Toulouse wins the 2024 Investec Champions Cup, it will be hard for scrumhalf Antoine Dupont not to win his second Champions Cup Player of the Year award. He did that in 2021 and he is already a former World Rugby Player of the Year.
“Antoine Dupont is possibly the greatest player of the past decade and will possibly end his career as the best of the professional era,” Bendon said. "Based purely on individual talent he is on a par with the great All Black duo of Dan Carter and Richie McCaw in my personal opinion.”
Simply put: Whether it’s the French national team or Toulouse, when Dupont isn’t available, his team just isn’t as dominant. That was evident in the 2024 Six Nations when Dupont sat out to focus on the Olympic Rugby 7s, as he will represent France this summer.
“Without Dupont, France struggled mightily in the Guinness Six Nations and Toulouse too see a drop off in performance when he is not around,” Bendon said.
Dupont’s rival on the other side, Leinster’s Jamison Gibson-Park, sets up the best individual matchup in years in the Investec Champions Cup Final. The two play the same position and both are up for Player of the Year.
Toulouse Rugby Team Hoping To Move Past 2023 Rugby World Cup Disappointment
France hosted the 2023 Rugby World Cup and were one of the heavy favorites to win the tournament. After handing New Zealand a historic loss in pool play, France was poised to make a deep run in the knockout stage.
It didn’t happen. Like Ireland against the All Blacks, France lost in the quarterfinals to the eventual champions South Africa.
Toulouse features more than 10 French Rugby National players, and even a member of the Scottish national team, Blair Kinghorn. Dupont is the unquestioned leader of the French team and the Champions Cup will be his first chance to move past the World Cup.
“A (Champions Cup title) would be huge for two groups of players who endured bitterly disappointing Rugby World Cups,” Bendon said. “France and Ireland were the top ranked teams heading into the tournament but both came up agonizingly short in the quarterfinals against the Springboks and All Blacks respectively.”
Toulouse Rugby Team Is More Than Just Antoine Dupont
Thomas Ramos, a fullback and fly-half, is considered one of the best players in the world as well. The 28-year-old French star has played 135 games for Toulouse across two stints and scored 1,539 points in his career.
He is considered one of the best fullbacks and place kickers in the world.
Leo Cullen vs. Ugo Mola Is A Tremendous Rugby Coaching Showdown
Ugo Mola became the head coach of Toulouse in the middle of the clubs’ Champions Cup drought in 2015 and has helped reinvigorate the program with multiple Top 14 titles and a Champions Cup win. The 51-year-old former French national player will once again go head-to-head with Leinster head coach Leo Cullen.
Cullen has bested Mola the last two seasons, but enters this Final with quite a bit of pressure.
“Personally I believe another Champions Cup final loss could see some major questions being asked about the outstanding head coach Leo Cullen who has guided the team masterfully through the seasons only to come up short when it really matters,” Bendon said. “Could this make fans slightly disillusioned with the team? Possibly.”
Mola won’t have that kind of pressure.
Where Is The Investec Champions Cup Final, EPCR Challenge Cup Final in 2025?
Cardiff, Wales takes over hosting duties for the EPCR's biggest weekend in 2025. Principality Stadium will host the two finals on a date yet to be announced. It'll be the first time since 2014 that Wales's capital has hosted the finals.
Cardiff has hosted the Champions Cup Final seven times and in the five times Principality Stadium has hosted the attendance has been above 68,000 fans.
Top 14 And URC Rugby Seasons Stream Live On FloRugby
The Top 14 and the United Rugby Championship seasons, as well as the Pacific region's professional league, Super Rugby, are all streaming on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States.
How To Watch The Investec Champions Cup In The United States
Every game in the Investec Champions Cup is available on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States, including the final in May. Match archives, highlights and breaking news will be available on both platforms.
Investec Champions Cup Semifinal Scores
Here are the scores from the semifinals:
- Leinster Rugby 20, Northampton Saints 17
- Toulouse Rugby 38, Harlequins F.C. 26
Investec Champions Cup Quarterfinals Scores
Here are the scores from the quarterfinals:
- Harlequins F.C. 42, Union Bordeaux-Bègles 41
- Leinster Rugby 40, La Rochelle 13
- Northampton Saints 59, Vodacom Bulls
- Toulouse 64, Exeter Chiefs 26
Investec Champions Cup Round Of 16 Rugby Scores
Here are the scores from the Round of 16:
- Vodacom Bulls 59, Lyon 19, Final
- La Rochelle 22, DHL Stormers 21, Final
- Exeter Chiefs 21, Bath Final
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles 45, Saracens 12, Final
- Leinster 36, Leicester Tigers 22
- Northampton Saints 24, Munster Rugby 14
- Toulouse 31, Racing 92 7
What To Know About Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
The host of the Champions Cup final moves from Aviva Stadium in Dublin to London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The venue is the third-largest stadium in England and home to Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Investec Champions Cup Scores In Round 1
Dec. 8
- Northampton Saints 28, Glasgow Warriors 19
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles 41, Connacht Rugby 5
Dec. 9
- Exeter Chiefs 19, RC Toulon 18
- Bath Rugby 37, vs. Ulster Rugby 14
- Toulouse 42, vs Cardiff Rugby 7
- Vodacom Bulls 27, Saracens 16
- Munster Rugby 17, Aviron Bayonnais 17
- Bristol Bears 36, Lyon 24
Dec. 10
- Sale Sharks 28, Stade Français 5
- Leinster Rugby 16, La Rochelle 9
- Leicester Tigers 35, DHL Stormers 26
- Harlequins 31, Racing 92 28
All these matches are streaming on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
Investec Champions Cup Scores In Round 2
Dec. 15
- Northampton Saints 22, RC Toulon 19
- Glasgow Warriors 12, Aviron Bayonnais 11
Dec. 16
- DHL Stormers 21, La Rochelle 20
- Saracens 55, Connacht Rugby 36
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles 36, Bristol Bears 17
- Vodacom Bulls 29, Lyon 28
- Leinster Rugby 37, Sale Sharks 27
- Bath Rugby 39, Cardiff Rugby 32
- Ulster Rugby 31, Racing 92 15
Dec. 17
- Exeter Chiefs 32, Munster Rugby 24
- Toulouse 47, Harlequins 19
- Leicester Tigers 27, Stade Français 24
All these matches are streaming on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
Investec Champions Cup Scores In Round 3
Jan. 12
- Northampton Saints 61, Aviron Bayonnais 14
Jan. 13
- Lyon 34, Connacht 20
- Exeter Chiefs 19, Glasgow Warriors 17
- Vodacom Bulls 31, Bristol Bears 17
- Munster Rugby 29, RC Toulon 18
- Leinster Rugby 43, Stade Français 7
- DHL Stormers 31, Sale Sharks 24
- Harlequins 54, Cardiff Rugby 15
- Toulouse 48, Ulster Rugby 24
Jan. 14
- Bath Rugby 29, Racing 92 25
- La Rochelle 45, Leicester Tigers 12
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles 55, Saracens 15
All these matches are streaming on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
Investec Champions Cup Scores In Round 4
Jan. 19
- Glasgow Warriors 29, RC Toulon 5
- Connacht Rugby 27, Bristol Bears 10
Jan. 20
- Harlequins 47, Ulster Rugby 19
- Vodacom Bulls 46, Union Bordeaux-Bègles 40
- Leinster Rugby 27, Leicester Tigers 10
- Racing 92 48, Cardiff Rugby 26
- Northampton Saints 26, Munster Rugby 23
- DHL Stormers 24, Stade Français 20
- Saracens 39, Lyon 24
Jan. 21
- La Rochelle 37, Sale Sharks 24
- Toulouse 31, Bath Rugby 19
- Aviron Bayonnais 40, Exeter Chiefs 17
All these matches are streaming on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
How To Watch Rugby Matches In the United States On FloRugby
The Investec Champions Cup will stream all its matches on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States. FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to:
- Investec Champions Cup
- EPCR Challenge Cup
- United Rugby Championship
- Currie Cup
- Top 14
- Super Rugby
- And more
FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.