Champions Toulouse Olympique can’t do anything more to secure a place in Super League, coach Sylvain Houles reckons.
The French side, who were relegated three years ago after one season in the top flight, stunned league leaders and hosts York Knights 10-8 in Sunday’s Championship Grand Final, but face an 11-day wait to learn if they will be promoted..
The IMG ranking system will determine the first 12 clubs in the 2026 top flight and two more will be chosen by a panel based on factors including finance, sustainability and their prospects of being competitive on the pitch.
The Grand Final win earned Toulouse a quarter of an IMG point, putting them in the driving seat for a place among the top 12 and speaking after the game, Houles said: “I just hope for our sport we are in there.”
A decision will be announced on October 16 and Houles questioned: “What more can we do?
“I think we are definitely better prepared than we were in 2022. We had a great team in 2021, but many were coming towards the end of their Super League career.
“Now we have a young squad and you need fresh legs and a great engine to play in Super League.
“Everything is in place, our training complex is amazing, we have got a great chairman, good directors, good development and good young kids.
“It won’t be easy, Super League is another step, but it would be good for the French game for us to be in Super League.”
Toulouse Olympique see off York with Super League on the horizon
Though York scored the Grand Final’s two tries, Jake Shorrocks kicked Toulouse to glory with five penalty goals.
“I am extremely proud,” Houles reflected. “At the start of the season you have a plan and idea of what you want to do.
“We have got a very young squad and we want to develop them and at the end of the day it has paid off.
“It is a great win, we have been in four Grand Finals now; we won the first one in 2021 and I was fed up of losing them so I am really happy now.”
Former Widnes Vikings full-back Olly Ashall-Bott was outstanding for Toulouse, who had added motivation with three York players making up the entire shortlist for Championship player of the year.
“He was huge for us,” Houles said of Ashall-Bott. “I don’t understand how he is not nominated for player of the year.
“He scored 23 tries, 17 assists – he has been incredible all year. He is a great player and I am extremely proud for him and of him.”
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