Stade Toulousain

Rugby team
teamname = Stade Toulousain


fullname = Stade Toulousain
location = Toulouse, France
country

founded = 1907
ground = Stade Ernest-Wallon
capacity = 19,500
president = René Bouscatel
coach = Guy Novès
captain = Yannick Jauzion / Jean Bouilhou
league = Top 14
season = 2007-2008
position = 1st
url=www.stadetoulousain.fr
pattern_la1=| pattern_b1=_thinredsides| pattern_ra1=| leftarm1=000000| body1=000000| rightarm1=000000| shorts1=000000| pattern_so1=| socks1=000000
pattern_la2=| pattern_b2=| pattern_ra2=| leftarm2=FFFFFF| body2=FFFFFF| rightarm2=FFFFFF| shorts2=FFFFFF| socks2=FFFFFF

Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup three times - in 1996, 2003 and 2005. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps and Munster Rugby, respectively. Stade Toulousain have also won a record 17 French Championship titles. Their home ground is the Stade Ernest-Wallon. However championship big matches and Heineken Cup games can be played at the Stadium Municipal de Toulouse. The club colours are red and black.

History

The Birth

Before 1907 rugby in Toulouse was only played in schools or universities. In 1893, students of secondary school "Lycée de Toulouse" got together in "les Sans Soucis". Once attending university the same students founded "l'Olympique Toulousain", which became "Stade Olympien des Etudiants de Toulouse" (SOET) a few years later in 1896. In the same period, 'non-students' grouped in "le Sport Atléthique Toulousain" (SAT) while students of the veterinary school created "l'Union Sportive de l'Ecole Vétérinaire" (USEV). Both entities merged in 1905 and called themselves "Véto-Sport". Finally in 1907, Stade Toulousain was founded resulting from a union between the SOET and Véto-Sport.

Early years

Stade Toulousain played its first final of the national title French Championship in 1909 and lost it to Stade Bordelais Université Club (17-0) in Tououse. In 1912 Stade Toulousain won its first national title in 1912. It had to wait until 1922 before it won its second. However the 1920s were a golden era for the club. Their first final action in the 1920s was in 1921, when they were defeated USA Perpignan. Despite losing in 1921, the side went on to win the 1922, 1923, 1924, 1926 and 1927 championships.

1930s to 1950s

The following decades were relatively quiet after such a dominant era during the 1920s. Stade Toulousain would not make it to any grand finals during the 1930s, and it would not be until the late 1940s when they would return. However they did contest the Challenge Yves du Manoir with RC Toulon in 1934, though it ended in a nil-all tie and both teams were winners. The club made it to the final of the 1947 championship, and claimed the premiership, beating SU Agen, 10 to 3. However, no such championships followed, the club was again relatively quiet on the championship. It was 22 years in the waiting; Toulouse made it to the final, but were defeated by the CA Bègles club.

1970s to 1980s

In 1971 Toulouse contested the Challenge Yves du Manoir against US Dax, losing 18 to 8. Eleven years after the CA Bègles defeat, the club was again disappointed in the final, being defeated by AS Béziers in the championship game of 1980. The latter end of the decade was however, reminiscent of the 1920s sides. Toulouse were again contesting the Challenge Yves du Manoir for the 1984 season, though they lost to RC Narbonne 17 to 3. They did however claim their first championship since 1947, defeating RC Toulon in the 1985 final. The following season saw them successfully defend their championship, defeating SU Agen in the final. After a number of defeats in the Challenge Yves du Manoir finals, Toulouse defeated US Dax to win the 1988 competition. Both Toulon and Agen won the following premierships (1987 and 1988) but Toulouse won another championship in 1989.

1990s to present

The dominance continued in the 1990s, starting with a grand final loss in 1991, and a Challenge Yves du Manoir championship in 1993, defeating Castres 13 to 8 in the final. The mid-1990s saw Stade Toulousain become a major force yet again, as the club claimed four premierships in a row, winning the championship in 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997, as well as the Challenge Yves du Manoir in 1995. The club emmulated its success in the European Rugby Cup, becoming the first ever champions in the 1995-96 season.

The late 1990s and the 2000s saw the club again reach great heights. The club won the Challenge Yves du Manoir in 1998, defeating Stade Français Paris, and the 1999 championship as well as the 2001 championship and were runners-up in the 2003 season, losing to Stade Français in the final. As the club had done in the mid 1990s, Stade Toulousain replicated this success in the European Rugby Cup, winning the 2002-03 championship and the 2004-05 championship, making them the only club to ever win the title three times. Stade Toulousain is also the only French club to have taken part in all the editions of Heineken Cup since its creation (12, with the 2006-2007 season). The club made it to the final of the 2005-06 Top 14, and despite only trailing Biarritz 9-6 at half time, Toulouse could not prevent a second-half whitewash, eventually going down 40-13. They ended their seven year title drought with a 26-20 win over ASM Clermont Auvergne on the 28th June 2008.

tadium

Toulouse play their home games at the Stade Ernest-Wallon, which was built in the late 1980s and was recently renovated. It has a capacity of 19,000. The stadium however cannot always accommodate all the fans of the Toulouse club. For the larger fixtures, such as championship or Heineken Cup games or play-offs, the fixture may be moved to Stade de Toulouse, which has double capacity, 38,000. The stadium has been used for numerous matches at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Honours

"see also: Stade Toulousain in Cup Finals"

Rugby

*Heineken Cup:
** Champions: 1996, 2003, 2005
** Runners-up: 2004, 2008
*French Champions:
** Champions: 1912, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1947, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2008
** Runners-up: 1903, 1909, 1921, 1969, 1980, 1991, 2003, 2006
* Coupe de l'Espérance:
** Champions: 1916
** Runners-up: 1917
* Challenge Yves du Manoir:
** Champions: 1934, 1988, 1993, 1995, 1998
** Runners-up: 1971 1984
* French Cup:
** Champions: 1946, 1947, 1984
** Runners-up: 1949, 1985
*World Club Championship:
** Champions: 1986

occer

*Champions of Midi:
**Champions: 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914

European record

Toulouse have a very good European competition record. Since the European Rugby Cups were inaugurated for the 1995-96 season, Toulouse has qualified for the Heineken Cup in every season. The club has the best competition record in the Heineken Cup, more so than any other club in Europe, having won the competition three times.

Current squad

rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=FL | name=Jean Bouilhou (c)

Notable Former Players

"see also cl|Stade Toulousain rugby union footballers"

elected former coaches

*flagicon|Australia Tom Richards
*flagicon|France Guy Novès

"see also cl|Stade Toulousain rugby union coaches"

Presidents

* Henri Cazaux : 1954–1957
* André Brouat : 1964–1966
* Henri Fourès : 1966–1973
* Henri Cazaux : 1974–1980
* Jean Fabre : 1980–1989
* Jean-René Bouscatel : 1992–

External links

* [http://www.stadetoulousain.fr Official site (in French)]
* [http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/team-stadetoulousain.html Data, Results etc (in English)]

References