Toulouse confirm groundshare talks

Toulouse Olympique are close to agreeing a deal to groundshare with rugby union side Stade Toulousain, as reported by Love Rugby League last month.

The 19,500-capacity Stade Ernest Wallon hosted the Championship clash between Toulouse and Toronto earlier this season, and would enabled Toulouse to meet the requirements of promotion to Super League.

Plans to re-develop their traditional home at the Stade des Minimes were sent in to turmoil by opposition to the plans, which halted renovations but not before the main stand had been demolished, leaving the capacity at less than 4,000.

It means talks to relocate to at least meet the short-term requirements of Super League have been underway over the past few months.

President Bernad Sarrazain said: “Our goal is promotion to Super League at the end of this year.

“Our ambition is to be one of the major clubs in the region, like Catalans Dragons are in Perpignan.

“We have to prepare for promotion and the future, and everything has to be ready today.

“We are nearing completion of an agreement to play all of our home games at Stade Ernest-Wallon from 2020.

“I take this opportunity to thank the President of Stade Toulousain, Didier Lacroix, for proposing the groundshare.

“We would like to build on this infrastructure to raise our level to a level excellence we’ve never had before.”