Teddy Thomas Confirms Move to Toulouse, Citing Contract Length
One of the Top 14’s most potent try-scorers, Teddy Thomas, has officially confirmed his departure from La Rochelle to join Toulouse next season. The 31-year-old center revealed the news in an interview, stating that the move was driven by a more attractive contract offer from Toulouse.
A Difficult Decision
“It was a difficult decision because I’ve been at La Rochelle for three years now, a club where I feel comfortable and trusted by the team. Leaving a club is never easy. Unfortunately, the contractual aspect also played a role – Stade Toulouse made me a much more attractive offer in terms of contract years,” Thomas explained.
Thomas, who has 28 caps for the French national team, signed a three-year deal with Toulouse. La Rochelle, on the other hand, only offered him a two-year contract. “I respect and understand their decision, but that’s why I’ll be moving to Stade Toulouse at the end of the season,” he said.
Lifelong Admiration
The talented center admitted that Toulouse has always been a dream destination. “I’ve always admired Toulouse since I was young and when a club of this caliber calls you and offers you a three-year contract, it’s hard to refuse. I spoke to La Rochelle throughout the process; they were always aware of my discussions with Toulouse. Despite this, they preferred to offer me only two years.”
Full Dedication Until the End
Despite the impending move, Thomas remains focused on delivering his best for La Rochelle for the rest of the season.
“Right now, it’s not on my mind. I still have a lot to achieve here, and I hope I can give my all to leave this club with my head held high. This is additional motivation for me to leave my mark on my time at Stade Rochelais and depart in the best possible way.”
Thomas, who played for Biarritz and Racing 92 before joining La Rochelle, is looking forward to helping his new team achieve success. He added, “Why not by winning a Champions Cup (the season starts Friday in Bath) or a Brennus Shield (La Rochelle is currently sixth in the standings, eleven points behind Toulouse, the leader)?”
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How do you see your role within the Toulouse team contributing to their future success?
## Teddy Thomas Makes Big Move: An Interview
**Interviewer:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re joined by Teddy Thomas, fresh off confirming his transfer to Toulouse for next season. Teddy, welcome!
**Teddy Thomas:** Thanks for having me.
**Interviewer:** Let’s get straight to it. You’ve been a key part of La Rochelle’s success these past few years, so this news must have been tough to announce.
**Teddy Thomas:** Absolutely. It was a really difficult decision. I’ve loved my time at La Rochelle, it’s truly been a special club to be a part of. [[1](https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Teddy-thomas-la-rochelle-dit-oui-a-toulouse/1523284)]
**Interviewer:** What ultimately swayed your decision to move on?
**Teddy Thomas:** Well, Toulouse presented a very attractive contract offer, one that was hard to refuse. It’s a new challenge, a new chapter in my career, and I’m excited to see what I can accomplish with them.
**Interviewer:** Toulouse are undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in the Top 14. What are you most looking forward to about joining them?
**Teddy Thomas:** The history, the culture, the winning mentality… Toulouse just exudes excellence. I want to be a part of that, contribute to their legacy and hopefully add to their trophy cabinet.
**Interviewer:** We wish you all the best, Teddy. Thanks for joining us and sharing your thoughts.
**Teddy Thomas:** Thank you!
