in the final against Leinster, one more opportunity to make history for Toulouse

Toulouse rugby players are looking for a sixth continental coronation on Saturday in London.

The Champions Cup final, which pits Stade Toulouse against Leinster, will inevitably make history, Saturday May 25 at 3:45 p.m. (live on France 2 and on france.tv). On the one hand, because it pits the two best teams of the moment against each other, but also because it can bring each of the two into a new dimension.

With four titles to their name, Leinster can equal the record of five continental victories by winning in London. A brand now owned by Toulouse, which can therefore improve it on Saturday. A unique challenge, which could well anchor the protagonists indelibly in the history of their club.

Before the semi-final against Harlequins, Ugo Mola announced it: if his players want to become the idols of a club, they will have to win. “For the moment, it’s not bad, but they have not yet marked the history of the club like certain generations,” warned the technician. Comments corroborated by Antoine Dupont: “Potential is only verified when you lift a trophy.”

With a fifth final in five years (two in the Champions Cup, three in the Top 14), Ugo Mola’s men have established themselves as one of the best teams of their generation. But in a club which has 22 French championship titles and five European Cup titles, examples of this kind are legion. Some like Yannick Jauzion, William Servat or Cédric Heymans, to name just a few (eight in total), even have three European stars to their name.

“This generation is exceptional, both in terms of talent and state of mind.”

Vincent Clerc, triple European champion with Toulouse and rugby consultant for France Télévisions

at franceinfo: sport

Without even reaching the three European stars alone, this group could forge a legend and bring some of its players into the big leagues in Toulouse. There are 24 survivors of the 2021 squad. Although not all of them played in the final against La Rochelle, and not all of them will play in the final against Leinster, it is a whole collective that has learned to grow together.

By its victories, but also by its defeats, since although it has a title in 2021, Stade Toulouse has failed four times in the European semi-finals in the last five seasons, including three against the Irish Leinster. By dropping its pet peeve on Saturday, this generation would add a new touch to its legend, already well established according to Vincent Clerc: “She has already marked the history of the club, she has made history, without a doubt.”

Asked by AFP about the mark left by this group within the club, Romain Ntamack did not hide the fact that there was still a little way to go before being on par with the biggest. “We are starting to make an impact little by little. This generation wants to win everything, all the time.”

Identified as the man of Toulouse’s revival, initiated since his takeover in 2015, Ugo Mola also has a new chapter to add to his time on the bench, after having worn the tunic of the Rouge et Noir. Having come close to relegation in 2017, for his second season at the head of the team, he was able to raise his head to accumulate success. He has since become one of only two coaches in history to have won the European competition as a player and as a coach with a certain Leo Cullen, his Irish counterpart on Saturday.

With him, like the players, it is a staff of regulars who surround him. Strengthened by the arrival of Jerome Kaino, double world champion with New Zealand and starter in 2021 in the Toulouse ranks, it is made up of four members already present three years ago. For them too, this is a great opportunity to be part of the most beautiful pages in the history of their club.

In the columns of Olympic nooninternational fullback Thomas Ramos did not hide this desire to be remembered. “Our team likes to take on challenges and make history, did he declare. We want to be worthy of the history of Stade Toulouse.” Words that resonate with those of Vincent Clerc, who evokes the desire to “to give back to the Stadium what it gives us and to go a little further into history.” Faced with a team that has so often represented the main obstacle of this generation, Toulouse would be well inspired to win on Sunday. Their legacy certainly depends on it, before perhaps dreaming of a new Cup-championship double.