the essentials The derby promises to be undecided between Toulouse who want to remain undefeated and Blagnac who hope to take their revenge from the first leg. Kick-off this Sunday, at 3 p.m., at the Ernest-Wallon stadium.
Ten years. It will almost be a decade since the headliners of Sept-Deniers and Ramiers have been without a crampon. And this, in this very big league that the Toulouse women joined following winning the Armelle-Auclair challenge. The late BSORF, future Blagnac RF, came out of a memorable semi-final once morest the absolute reference of the time, namely: Montpellier.
The fingers of both hands are more than enough to count the survivors: Gaëlle Hermet, Jennifer Mengué-Cros and “Mama” Traoré on the Toulouse side, Elodie Martin, the two Audreys (Forlani and Abadie) in the “caouec” camp, but that doesn’t matter. The other pioneers, now retired from the field, can take their place in the stands in complete peace of mind. The succession was duly ensured, and, from one generation to the next, the derby at the top of Haute-Garonne has become, more than just a highlight of the season, a true classic. This Sunday followingnoon, even though the spectator record established no later than last week by Romagnat and the Stade Bordelais (the 6,000 mark was crossed at the Marcel-Michelin stadium) would not be beaten, the enthusiasm will be no less palpable. The host club “went all out” to use the words of Olivier Marin, its benevolent manager to whom the finest women owe so much in their blossoming on June 4, 2022.
A healthy rivalry
As once morest Lyon, as last year in the Coupe de France, the debates will take place on Ernest-Wallon’s home ground. In gala dress? Yes and no: “There will be issues, that’s for sure,” continues the man supported by Laure Sansus-Bourdon and Céline Ferrer. Nine lengths ahead, this is certainly a comfortable mattress but Stade Toulousain can still be caught up in the event of a zero-point defeat. He will indeed travel to Grenoble on May 12, the day the voting closes, while Blagnac will host Stade Rennais, eliminated from the race for the final phase unless they crush Lyon, with an offensive bonus at stake. Unlikely. “The rivalry between us is both healthy and beneficial for women’s rugby, I insist on that,” declared Nicolas Tranier. The head coach evokes a group “which got back in the direction of travel” at the expense of Lons. And plan a nice party.
Even without Berthoumieu or Llorens or Domain. Among the Stadistes, no more Murie than Lecat and even less Baguette and Barrat. Fedrighi will be spared (proximity to the Tournament requires), the absences of Castello and Cazorla not falling, fortunately, in the “long duration” category.
