Finally the big day ! For all Stade Toulousain supporters, this Saturday June 17 is a special day, when their rugby players will perhaps win a 22nd French championship title. The final is held at the Stade de France, against an opponent that could not be tougher: La Rochelle, double European champion in title. From the Maritimes who dream of winning their first Brennus shield. As the tension mounts as kick-off nears, follow the pre-game with The Midi Dispatch !
Will Emmanuel Macron go down on the lawn to greet the players?
This was one of the big questions during the last visit of the Head of State to the Stade de France, on April 29 for the final of the Coupe de France TFC-Nantes. The match was held in full protest against the pension reform. Thus, the president wanted to avoid possible whistles from part of the public. He had not finally descended on the meadow, and had greeted players and coaches in the corridors of the Stade de France.
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Final Stade Toulousain-La Rochelle: Will Emmanuel Macron (this time) descend on the lawn of the Stade de France?
The cadets of Stade Toulousain bow in the final of their category
They performed as a curtain raiser for the “big boys” match. The Grenoble residents dominated them 30 to 28.
The referee of the match will be Mr. Tual Trainini
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Final Stade Toulousain-La Rochelle: we know the referee of the meeting
They are not afraid of anything…
The rain that hit the capital at the end of the afternoon did not dampen the ardor of the Toulouse supporters on rue Princesse. And a “tempered” paquito!
The nice wink of an illustrious old
Maxime Médard, eternal Stadiste (2000-2022) posted a message of encouragement for the 2023 generation. The five-time French champion and three-time European champion, retired for a year, says he is “wholeheartedly with Stade Toulousain” !
Meafou-Skelton, the duel of the colossi
Emmanuel Meafou: 24 years old, 2.03m, 140kg. Will Skelton: 31 years old, 2.03m, 145kg. The duel of the two powerful second lines will be one of the keys to the meeting. We deciphered it with David Gérard, former Stade and former coach of Montauban, in particular.
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DECRYPTION. Final of the Top 14 Toulouse-La Rochelle: “Not the same teams without them” Former Toulousain David Gérard talks about Emmanuel Meafou and Will Skelton
The Old Port of La Rochelle is starting to come alive
If there will be festivities on the Place du Capitole in Toulouse, with the final broadcast on a giant screen, it will be the same on the quays of the Old Port in La Rochelle, where the atmosphere is slowly rising.
The charms of the Red and Black
Several Stade Toulousain players, like many athletes, have many lucky objects/tattoos/rituals. We tell you about it below.
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Final Top 14 Toulouse-La Rochelle: bandages, crucifixes, Lourdes water, boxer shorts… the superstitions of Toulouse people
Alexandre Roumat, the waking dream
He is one of the players very used by manager Ugo Mola this season, he will still start this evening for the final. Alexandre Roumat, 25-year-old 3rd line, arrived in Toulouse at the start of this season, from Bordeaux-Bègles. And he thinks he was right… Interview.
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INTERVIEW. Final Stade Toulousain-La Rochelle: “If someone had told me that a year ago…” Alexandre Roumat is living a waking dream with Toulouse
Unbeatable on the Stade Toulousain?
To help you wait until kick-off, we suggest you test your knowledge of the red and black club. Will you take up the challenge?
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QUIZ. Final of the Top 14 Toulouse-La Rochelle: are you a real supporter of Stade Toulousain?
The Rochelais are in the place
The Maritime fans have arrived at the Stade de France.
Meanwhile, players…
They begin a small “warm-up” – a warm-up in French in the text – from their hotel located in the Val d’Oise department.
The reporters from La Dépêche are on site and they announce good news
The sun has returned to Paris and its inner suburbs! The Stade de France is ready to boil…
Already that Didier Deschamps was worried …
Weather conditions which, if they continue like this (which is not expected) could influence the meeting by degrading the state of the pitch. This is not going to reassure Didier Deschamps, coach of Les Bleus du football, who was already worried last night from Faro where France beat Gibraltar in the Euro 2024 qualifiers (3-0), about the future state of the field on which Mbappé and his gang are due to perform against Greece on Monday, still in the European Championship qualifiers.
Read also :
Stade Toulousain-La Rochelle final: “I pray …” Why the Top 14 final gives Didier Deschamps cold sweats
It is raining very hard in the capital!
A few hours before the meeting, a big storm is currently beating down on Paris.
And to close the “transport” sequence
La Dépêche reveals to you that players, staff members, administrative staff, club employees and even the families of the players will return to Toulouse, not by plane, but by train, on Sunday after the final. Rare enough to be underlined. A choice that is directly in line with the eco-responsible charter recently signed between Stade Toulousain and the government. Details below.
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INFO THE DEPECHE. Final Stade Toulousain-La Rochelle: Toulouse players will make the return trip by train and not by plane
Driver, if you are champion……..
And since we are talking about “transport”, metro, RER, etc… We underline this nice tweet from Lionel, RER driver in Île de France and rugby fan. “Stadium and La Rochelle supporters, I may be your driver to take you to this Top 14 final!” he writes.
Stade de France: practical information
For those who are converging/will be converging towards the enclosure of Saint-Denis, here is some information to facilitate the trip!
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Final Stade Toulousain-La Rochelle: metro, bus, RER, opening hours… What you need to know before going to the Stade de France
The very funny clip of the gendarmes of Charente-Maritime
Members of law enforcement have made a quirky little film to support local gamers.
And if Toulouse bought the Stade de France to establish its quarters there?
Wouldn’t it save travel time? This is the proposal of the CM of the always very funny Twitter account of “Chez Tonton”, the well-known bar of Toulouse located place Saint-Pierre. In his own way, he points out that, twice this season, Toulouse fans have been invited to the Stade de France: for the final of the TFC French Football Cup (April 29, 5-1 victory against Nantes) and this Saturday for Stade Toulousain in rugby.
But by the way, where does this “tradition” of meeting up on rue Princesse come from?
Explanations here.
Read also :
Stade Toulousain-La Rochelle final: but why do Toulouse supporters gather in rue Princesse during each final in Paris?
Ovalion… of circus!
Always from the 6th arrondissement of Paris… The mascot of the Stade Toulousain Ovalion is taking some serious risks!! When you love your job…
The atmosphere is rising… rue Princesse!
If the surroundings of the Stade de France are logically, still at this time, rather calm; it is in the heart of Paris that the people of Toulouse make themselves heard. In this case: rue Princesse, in the 6th arrondissement of the capital, where supporters have had a tradition, since 2019, of meeting to celebrate being in the final.
The teams: what a big deal!
For this meeting at the top, the respective managers of the two formations have logically chosen to align their best players. Dupont, Ramos, Ntamack, Alldritt, Skelton; Danty… They’re all here!
Read also :
Stade Toulousain – Racing in the semi-finals of the Top 14: Dupont, Roumat, Retière… discover the composition of the “red and black”!
The course of La Rochelle before the final
The Rochelais, second in the regular phase, were also directly qualified for one of the two semi-finals. They were opposed, also in San Sebastian, to the Girondins of Union Bordeaux Bègles. Final score: 24 to 13. First sovereign and dominating (21-3 at halftime), the Maritimes were a little more abused during the second act.
The course of Stade Toulousain before the final
Toulouse therefore completed the first phase of the season in first place. In fact, the Rouge et Noir were directly qualified for one of the two semi-finals, without having to go through a play-off. They thus secured their place in the final on Friday June 9, by easily dominating the Ile-de-France residents of Racing 92 at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian (Spain). Final score: 41-14.
The most beautiful poster in the final
This meeting, at the end of which the 2022/2023 French champion team will be known, is quite simply the one between the two best teams of the season. Stade Toulousain finished the regular phase of the Top 14 in first place with 81 points; the Rochelais were their dolphins with 78 units.
Hello everyone !
Welcome to this live to follow the rise of the atmosphere before the big chco in the final of the Top 14 rugby: Stade Toulousain-La Rochelle!