Toulouse hoping Bradford will be first visitors to France after Newcastle game postponed

Toulouse are hopeful of welcoming Bradford for their first home game at the Stade Ernest Wallon next month.

They are yet to play in France in 2021, with their opening home game against London Broncos forfeited by the opposition and the game against Featherstone postponed due to the restrictions around travel and quarantine.

The same restrictions, which require people returning from France to isolate for at least five days, have caused the home game with Newcastle on May 29 to be postponed.

After moving their home game with Widnes to Heywood Road, home of Swinton, earlier this month, they will also play another ‘home’ game at the same venue this weekend, ironically against Swinton.

These games took particular priority as Toulouse aren’t scheduled to play either Widnes or Swinton away due to the nature of the Championship fixture calendar in 2021.

John Kear’s Bulls are the next scheduled visitors to France, on June 19, and it is hoped that restrictions will have eased by then to enable their part-time players to return without requiring isolation.

Beyond that, Oldham are the next visitors on July 3 before Dewsbury make the trip on July 24.

Clubs must play at least 16 of their scheduled 22 Championship games to be eligible for the play-offs.

Despite the logistical challenges, Toulouse have so far managed to play four games – winning all four – out of a possible six, while they were also granted a 24-0 win for the scheduled game against London meaning they are five from five at the top of the table.

Another five of the 14 Championship teams have played five games, with the rest on six.