Toulouse hope league and cup double will catch Super League eye

Toulouse are hoping to an answer to their inclusion in to Super League for 2016 this week, according to the French press.

They completed a league and cup double with a Grand Final win over Lezignan at the weekend, in front of more than 7000 in Perpignan, and president Bernard Sarrazain says that success should catch the eye of the RFL.

Delays with their stadium development have put paid to inclusion in 2015, but Toulouse are now aiming to join the second league of 12 teams in 2016.

Sarrazain told La Depeche (translated): “In the context of our application in the Super League, it helps to show the English that we are capable of great things.

“(We will get a response about Super League) Probably in the week. You need to know to not stay on the sidelines. So we will know if it’s good for 2016 where we could join the second level.

“We can not (enter in 2015) because the renovation of the stadium will begin in September for delivery in early 2016. Entering the Super League in 2015 would have been premature.”

A second French team in Super League has long been on the agenda. Catalan Dragons are now in their ninth season in the competition, and it’s now more than 10 years since Toulouse first indicated their wish to join the league.

They played in the Championship for three years between 2009 and 2011, but failed to make an impact on the field.

Observers compared the standard of the weekend’s Grand Final, which ended in a 38-12 victory for Toulouse over Lezignan, to mid-table Championship level.