Mark Kheirallah could feature for Toulouse in Super League after all

James Gordon
Mark Kheirallah Toulouse Olympique

Photo: Manuel Blondeau / SWpix

The uncertainty over the future of Toulouse full-back Mark Kheirallah has taken another twist, after the player posted on social media about his excitement for the start of the season.

Toulouse’s preparations for their first year in Super League have been hit by player drama in the build-up.

Captain and stand-off Johnathan Ford departed the club due to personal reasons, in light of the new restrictions in France requiring all players to be double-vaccinated.

The future of several other players has also been called in to question, including star full-back Kheirallah.

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He posted on Instagram: “Excited is an understatement for how I’m feeling about this weekend.

“Nine years of hard work and sacrifice all leading up to this moment. From running around in parks all over the south of France to now being in the biggest and best rugby league competition in Northern Hemisphere. Super League!!

“Busting my ass at training each day and having recovered from C19 early January allows me to be involved with such a tremendous occasion.

“I hope this year is exactly what I dreamed it would be.”

The situation as was

Last week at the Super League press launch, coach Sylvain Houles seemed resigned to not having Kheirallah play for Toulouse again.

He discussed the prospects of new captain Tony Gigot slotting in at full-back.

Houles said: “We are in this situation (with Mark) and I’m not sure we will see him again.

“I’m not too sure when the situation will be resolved to be honest with you. At the end of the day, I think as a group we may have to moved forward.”

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Toulouse open their maiden Super League season at home to Huddersfield on Saturday night.

The game at Stade Ernest Wallon will be their first regular season home game for almost two years.

It will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Whether Kheirallah will be involved or not may take another twist when the 21-man squads are announced on Thursday.

Super League Mark Kheirallah

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