We have seen Wakefield Trinity underline their ambition of joining Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves and co as a Grade A club and a Super League club following their financial takeover but they are not the only Championship club making waves in this way.
Trinity have been taken over by Matthew Ellis who has appointed Daryl Powell as head Coach and signed Jermaine McGillvary for the 2024 season. He has also underlined plans to further develop Belle Vue.
Like Wakefield, Toulouse Olympique finished in the top 12 in IMG’s rankings. So, if Super League was to be determined by these rankings for 2024 as it will be in 2025 then the French club would be set to feature in the top tier next year having finished 10th even above Wakefield.
Their standing is only going to get stronger with Oliver Dubois of Autobuy taking over the club as confirmed by the French side in a statement today.
Former President Bernard Sarrazain said on leaving the club: “The time has come for me to relinquish my position as President. How can you forget these 12 years by your side in the rise of sport… From the club to the start in Elite 1 to access the Super League. Of course, the past year has been difficult and complicated, but thanks to your help and support, we have come out of the impasse that threatened us.
“Now, a new president will be in place in the person of Olivier Dubois, I am convinced that he is the right man to continue to take the club higher and further in its adventure. I wish him every success, especially in his desire to return to the Super League again. It is not without a twinge of sadness that you say “goodbye” to all of you, but not a goodbye because I remain a member of the club. Thank you to all of you, friends, partners, volunteers, players and staff, administrators, alumni and all the institutions. The TO is a big family, continue to protect it and defend its values.”
The following is what Dubois has planned for the club expecting to be in Super League come 2025: “Training with the training centre and support for young people at the highest level. This is a promising breeding ground for rugby league. It is important to train the younger generations and allow them to rub shoulders with the professional world in order to make them seasoned athletes who can join the France team and make it more and more efficient.
“To train, learn and progress, while creating a team spirit, it is necessary to be able to have adapted infrastructures. However, today the TO XIII does not have a dedicated place since the training centre is in Toulouse Lautrec, the elite train in Arnaune and play in Arnaune and the pros train in Arnaune and play in Ernest Wallon. Olivier Dubois, as the new president, is committed to working on a solution to provide the TO XIII teams with training and preparation facilities that meet the standards of professional clubs.
“The promotion of rugby 13 in the region with the aim of uniting more and more audiences around this sport and bringing more and more spectators to the stadium.
“Communication needs to be improved, more dynamic, more regular in order to involve the partner companies that support the club as well as the fans.
“IMG has just awarded the club a score of 12.97 which shows the efforts made by the TO XIII in recent years. Olivier Dubois wants to improve this score and be one of the 12 teams selected by IMG in order to be in the Super League in 1 year.”
Lastly, Dubois himself added: “The role of president of a rugby league club is both demanding and exciting. It requires a total commitment to excellence in the field, competent management of financial affairs, and the creation of a culture that fosters unity, camaraderie, and growth. As the new president, I am aware of these responsibilities and accept them with humility and determination.”
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