Huge fixture forced to MOVE

Competing against the likes of Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves, Hull FC and of course Super League and World Champions St Helens is the pinnacle in European rugby league.

It is something Toulouse Olympique have tasted before in 2022 and something Featherstone Rovers were denied when they lost to the French side in the 2021 Championship Grand Final.

As the Championship season draws to a close, the two meet again in France but the fixture has been moved to a new stadium.

The French side made the following statement when it was previously confirmed that the Rugby Union World Cup would see the fixture moved:

“In the run-up to the Rugby World Cup to be held in France in the autumn, many stadiums including Ernest Wallon (base camp of the Japanese team) must comply with precise specifications making it difficult to use them for the meetings of the resident clubs. Therefore, Toulouse Olympique is working on a mini-tour on the occasion of 3 relocated meetings.

Players and supporters will not meet in Walloon from August.

The three matches that cannot be held at the Ernest-Wallon stadium are as follows:

TO v Swinton, Saturday, August 19
TO v Barrow, Saturday, August 26
TO v Featherstone, Saturday 16 September

“Therefore, Toulouse Olympique seizes the opportunity to offer its usual audience a different ‘Match Day’ experience but also to an audience further away from Toulouse to enjoy these matches.

“Even if for the moment no stadium has been recorded, the TO collaborates with the institutions and clubs of the region to propose a ‘Summer Tour’ that would allow Rugby League fans and TO supporters to find themselves in a different context, but always around the same values.

“The club will not fail to communicate on the progress of this ‘Summer Tour’ soon.”

In response to this, Featherstone released the following statement:

“We’re disappointed that despite the circumstances of RWC2023 being known far in advance, that it has been left so late to communicate a change of venue for our away fixture with Toulouse.

“We will keep fans informed as soon as we understand more.”

It has now been confirmed where the game will be held with Featherstone taking to social media to say:

“Our upcoming game with Toulouse will be played at Stade Arnauné.

“Line B; Barrière de Paris.”