# 2016 Toulouse Olympique season

This article details Toulouse Olympique rugby league football club's 2016 season. This was Toulouse's first season back in the English competition since they left at the end of 2011. They competed in League 1. They finished the season on top of the table, but lost the promotion final to Rochdale Hornets who were crowned champions. Toulouse were promoted to the Championship in second place after they successfully came through the play-offs, beating Barrow Raiders in the play-off final. Toulouse also entered the Challenge Cup, reaching the sixth round where they lost to Super League side Wakefield Trinity.
Home matches were played at Stade Ernest-Argelès in Blagnac rather than at Toulouse's historic home ground of Stade Arnauné.

## Kingstone Press League 1

LEGEND :
* Win
* Draw
* Loss
* Bye
2016 League 1
| Date | Competition | Rnd | Vrs | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Att | Footage | Report |
| 5 March 2016 | League 1 | 1 | Coventry Bears | H | Stade Ernest-Argelès | W | 54-6 | Hulme 4, Kriouache, Maurel, White, Kheirallah 2 | Kheirallah 9C | - | Match | |
| 12 March 2016 | League 1 | 2 | Hemel Stags | H | Stade Ernest-Argelès | W | 74-0 | Maurel 2, Minga 2, Hulme, Ader, Masselot, Kheirallah 3, Hepi 2, White 2 | Kheirallah 9C | — | Match | |
| 25 March 2016 | League 1 | 3 | Bye | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 10 April 2016 | League 1 | 4 | South Wales Scorpions | A | Virginia Park (Caerphilly) | W | 64-0 | Gonzalez-Trique 2, Ford, Minga 4, Marguerite, Canet, Maurel, K Bentley, Kheirallah | Kheirallah 8C | — | Highlights | |
| 24 April 2016 | League 1 | 6 | Rochdale Hornets | A | Spotland | D | 28-28 | Curran 3, Minga, White | Kheirallah 4C | 536 | Match | |
| 30 April 2016 | League 1 | 5 | Oxford Rugby League | H | Stade Ernest-Argelès | W | 54-8 | K Bentley, Boyer, White, Curran, Marguerite, Gonzalez-Trigue, Maurel, Kriouache, Masselot, Marcon | Kheirallah 7C | 1,211 | Match | |
| 15 May 2016 | League 1 | 8 | Hunslet Hawks | A | South Leeds Stadium | W | 46-24 | Maurel 3, Margurite, Minga, Curran, Kheirallah 2, Ford | Kheirallah 5C | — | Match | |
| 22 May 2016 | League 1 | 9 | Barrow Raiders | A | Craven Park | W | 44-16 | Curran, Canet, Minga 2, Kheirallah 2, Ford, Maurel | Kheirallah 6C | 1,050 | Match | |
| 28 May 2016 | League 1 | 7 | Gloucestershire All Golds | H | Stade Ernest-Argelès | W | 48-16 | Curran, Minga 2, Hulme, Kriouache 2, White, Ford | Kheirallah 5C, Kriouache 3C | 1.335 | Match | |
| 4 June 2016 | League 1 | 10 | Doncaster | H | Stade Ernest-Argelès | W | 46-26 | Canet, Minga, Maurel, Curran, Hulme 2, White, Marion | Kheirallah 7C | - | Match | |
| 11 June 2016 | League 1 | 11 | Newcastle Thunder | A | Kingston Park | W | 32-22 | Ader 2, Hulme 2, Marion 2 | Kheirallah 4C | - | Match | |
| 18 June 2016 | League 1 | 12 | Keighley Cougars | H | Stade Ernest-Argelès | W | 84-6 | Minga, Kheirallah 4, Planas, Boyer 2, Ader 2, Kriouache 2, Maurel, Hulme, Marion | Kheirallah 12C | 2,167 | Match | |
| 26 June 2016 | League 1 | 13 | North Wales Crusaders | A | Racecourse Ground | W | 32-14 | Minga 2, Kriouache, Ford, Kheirallah, Planas | Kheirallah 4C | - | Match | |
| 2 July 2016 | League 1 | 14 | York City Knights | H | Stade Ernest-Argelès | W | 44-6 | Canet 2, Planas 2, Curran, Mika, Minga 2 | Kheirallah 6C | 2,873 | Match | |
| 9 July 2016 | League 1 | 15 | London Skolars | A | New River Stadium | W | 52-12 | Canet 2, White, Minga, Masselot, Curran 2, Hepi, K Bentley | Kheirallah 8C | - | Match | |
| 23 July 2016 | Super 8s | 1 | Keighley Cougars | H | Stade Ernest-Argelès | W | 40-4 | Marion, Ader, Canet, White, Maurel, Hulme, Curran | Kheirallah 5C, White | 1,214 | Match | |
| 30 July 2016 | Super 8s | 2 | York City Knights | H | Stade Ernest-Argelès | W | 46-16 | Hulme, Puech, Minga 2, Curran, White, Boyer, Canet | Kheirallah 7C | - | Match | |
| 14 August 2016 | Super 8s | 4 | Doncaster R.L.F.C. | A | Keepmoat Stadium | W | 38-18 | Minga, Curran 3, Ford, Hepi, Kheirallah | Kheirallah 5C | - | Match | |
| 20 August 2016 | Super 8s | 5 | Rochdale Hornets | H | Stade Ernest-Argelès | W | 46-6 | Kheirallah, Minga 3, Maurel, Hulme, Planas | Kheirallah 7C | 1,842 | Match | |
| 26 August 2016 | Super 8s | 3 | London Skolars | A | New River Stadium | W | 58-14 | Marguerite 3, Minga, Kheirallah 4, Ford, Maurel, Mika | Kheirallah 7C | - | Match | |
| 3 September 2016 | Super 8s | 6 | Hunslet Hawks | A | South Leeds Stadium | W | 16-12 | Minga, Maurel, Hulme | Kheirallah 2C | - | Match | |
| 10 September 2016 | Super 8s | 7 | Barrow Raiders | H | Stade Ernest-Argelès | W | 44-22 | K Bentley, White, Minga, Boyer, Hulme, Mika 2, Canet | Kheirallah 6C | - | Match | |
| 17 September 2016 | Super 8s | PF | Rochdale Hornets | H | Stade Ernest-Argelès | L | 22-24 | Canet, Curran, White, Ader | Kheirallah 3C | - | Match | |
| 24 September 2016 | Super 8s | PO SF | York City Knights | H | Stade Ernest-Argelès | W | 62-10 | Maurel 2, K Bentley, Kheirallah 2, Minga 2, Curran, Marguerite 2, Ferret | Kheirallah 9C | 2,000 est | Match | |
| 1 October 2016 | League 1 | PO F | Barrow Raiders | H | Stade Ernest-Argelès | W | 32-22 | Maurel, Marguerite, Hulme, Minga, Kheirallah | Kheirallah 6C | - | Match | |

### Player appearances - League

| FB = Fullback | C = Centre | W = Winger | SO = Stand Off | SH = Scrum half | P = Prop | H = Hooker | SR = Second Row | LF = Loose forward | I = Interchange |
| No | Player | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | S8 1 | S8 2 | S8 4 | S8 5 | S8 3 | S8 6 | S8 7 | PR F | PO SF | PO F |
| 1 | Mark Kheirallah | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB |
| 2 | Tony Maurel | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| 3 | Bastien Ader | C | C | - | C | - | - | - | - | C | C | C | C | C | - | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | - | - |
| 4 | Gregory White | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | - | C | C | C | C | - | - | - | I | C | C | C | C |
| 5 | Kuni Minga | W | W | W | W | - | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| 6 | Johnathon Ford | SO | SO | SO | SO | SO | SO | SO | SO | SO | SO | SO | SO | SO | SO | - | SO | SO | SO | SO | SO | SO | SO | SO | SO |
| 7 | Arthur Gonzalez-Trique | - | - | SH | SH | SH | SH | SH | - | - | I | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 8 | Clément Boyer | - | I | P | P | P | SR | SR | SR | SR | P | LF | LF | LF | P | P | P | P | P | SR | P | SR | P | P | P |
| 9 | Kane Bentley | I | - | I | H | H | H | H | H | H | - | - | - | H | H | H | H | - | H | - | - | H | H | H | H |
| 10 | Samy Masselot | I | I | - | I | I | I | I | P | - | - | P | P | - | I | - | - | - | P | P | P | - | - | I | I |
| 11 | Sebastien Planas | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | - | - | - | - | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR |
| 12 | Rhys Curran | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | - | - | - | SR | SR | SR |
| 13 | Andrew Bentley | LF | - | LF | LF | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 14 | Mourad Kriouache | H | H | H | I | I | I | I | I | I | H | I | I | I | I | I | I | H | I | - | I | I | I | I | I |
| 15 | Maxime Puech | P | P | I | - | I | I | P | P | P | I | P | P | P | - | I | I | P | - | P | - | P | I | - | - |
| 16 | Bastien Canet | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | - | P | P | - | - | P | P | P | P | I | - | - | - | P | P | P | P |
| 17 | Anthony Marion | I | LF | I | - | LF | LF | LF | LF | LF | LF | H | H | - | LF | LF | LF | I | I | H | H | LF | I | LF | LF |
| 18 | Tyla Hepi | I | I | I | I | I | P | - | I | I | I | I | I | I | I | I | I | I | I | I | I | I | I | I | I |
| 19 | Etienne Ferret | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | SH | SH | - | SH | - | SH | - | - | - | SH | - |
| 20 | Paul Marcon | - | - | - | - | W | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 21 | Gavin Marguerite | - | - | C | - | C | C | C | C | I | - | - | C | - | C | - | - | C | C | C | C | - | - | C | C |
| 21a | Christopher Denis | - | I | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | I | - | - | - | - | - |
| 22 | Danny Hulme | SH | SH | - | I | - | - | - | SH | SH | SH | SH | SH | SH | - | SO | SH | - | SH | - | SH | SH | SH | - | SH |
| 23 | Cédric Mazars | - | - | - | - | - | - | I | I | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | SR | - | - | - | - |
| 24 | Kalausa Leha | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | I | I | I | I | I | I | - | - | - | I | I | I | - | I | - | - | - |
| 25 | Justin Sangaré | - | - | - | - | - | I | I | - | - | - | I | I | - | - | - | - | - | - | I | I | - | - | - | - |
| 26 | Constantine Mika | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | I | I | I | I | LF | LF | LF | LF | I | LF | I | I |

## Standings
### Regular season

| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | For | Ag | Diff | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Toulouse Olympique | 14 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 702 | 184 | +518 | 27 | League 1 Super 8s |
| 2 | Rochdale Hornets | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 547 | 252 | +295 | 25 | League 1 Super 8s |
| 3 | York City Knights | 14 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 482 | 256 | +226 | 21 | League 1 Super 8s |
| 4 | Doncaster | 14 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 499 | 304 | +195 | 20 | League 1 Super 8s |
| 5 | Barrow Raiders | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 529 | 253 | +276 | 19 | League 1 Super 8s |
| 6 | Keighley Cougars | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 520 | 368 | +152 | 18 | League 1 Super 8s |
| 7 | Hunslet Hawks | 14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 383 | 374 | +9 | 16 | League 1 Super 8s |
| 8 | London Skolars | 14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 354 | 376 | –22 | 16 | League 1 Super 8s |
| 9 | Newcastle Thunder | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 404 | 368 | +36 | 15 | League 1 Shield |
| 10 | North Wales Crusaders | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 336 | 355 | –19 | 12 | League 1 Shield |
| 11 | Coventry Bears | 14 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 289 | 460 | –171 | 9 | League 1 Shield |
| 12 | Gloucestershire All Golds | 14 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 334 | 479 | –145 | 6 | League 1 Shield |
| 13 | South Wales Scorpions | 14 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 176 | 582 | –406 | 2 | League 1 Shield |
| 14 | Oxford Rugby League | 14 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 176 | 582 | –406 | 2 | League 1 Shield |
| 15 | Hemel Stags | 14 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 190 | 718 | –528 | 2 | League 1 Shield |

### Super 8s

| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | For | Ag | Diff | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Toulouse Olympique | 21 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 990 | 276 | +714 | 41 | Promotion Final |
| 2 | Rochdale Hornets | 21 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 709 | 440 | +269 | 33 | Promotion Final |
| 3 | Barrow Raiders | 21 | 15 | 1 | 5 | 769 | 375 | +394 | 31 | Playoffs |
| 4 | Doncaster | 21 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 683 | 526 | +157 | 28 | Playoffs |
| 5 | York City Knights | 21 | 12 | 1 | 8 | 618 | 461 | +157 | 25 | Playoffs |
| 6 | Keighley Cougars | 21 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 658 | 514 | +144 | 22 | Season Complete |
| 7 | Hunslet Hawks | 21 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 544 | 550 | –6 | 22 | Season Complete |
| 8 | London Skolars | 21 | 8 | 0 | 13 | 470 | 650 | –180 | 16 | Season Complete |

## Challenge Cup

Toulouse entered the Challenge Cup in Round 3. They were drawn away to face Cumbrian amateur side Wath Brow Hornets, winning 32–14. In Round 4, Toulouse defeated fellow League 1 side Gloucestershire All Golds 62–28 in France. In Round 5 they beat Championship side Leigh Centurions 10–8 at Stade Ernest-Argeles before bowing out at Super League side Wakefield Trinity, losing 40–22.
| Date | Round | Vrs | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Att | Footage |
| 27 February 2016 | Round 3 | Wath Brow Hornets | A | Cleator Moor | W | 32-14 | Kheirallah 4, Ford, Minga | Mark Kheirallah 4C | 400 est | Match |
| 19 March 2016 | Round 4 | Gloucestershire All Golds | H | Stade Ernest-Argeles | W | 62-28 | Kheirallah 3, Ford 2, White, Canet, Kriouache, Maurel, Minga, Boyer | Kheirallah 9C | 1,053 | Match |
| 16 April 2016 | Round 5 | Leigh Centurions | H | Stade Ernest-Argeles | W | 10-8 | Canet | Kheirallah 1C 2P | 2,133 | Match |
| 8 May 2016 | Round 6 | Wakefield Trinity | A | Belle Vue | L | 40-22 | Marguerite, Kriouache, Hulme, Minga | Kheirallah 3C | 2,539 | Match |

### Player appearances - Cup

| FB = Fullback | C = Centre | W = Winger | SO = Stand Off | SH = Scrum half | P = Prop | H = Hooker | SR = Second Row | LF = Loose forward | I = Interchange |
| No | Player | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 1 | Mark Kheirallah | FB | FB | FB | FB |
| 2 | Tony Maurel | W | W | W | W |
| 3 | Bastien Ader | C | C | C | - |
| 4 | Gregory White | C | C | C | C |
| 5 | Kuni Minga | W | W | W | W |
| 6 | Johnathon Ford | SO | SO | SH | SO |
| 7 | Arthur Gonzalez-Trique | - | - | SO | - |
| 8 | Clemont Boyer | - | I | P | P |
| 9 | Kane Bentley | I | H | H | H |
| 10 | Samy Masselot | I | I | I | I |
| 11 | Sebastien Planas | SR | SR | SR | SR |
| 12 | Rhys Curran | SR | SR | SR | SR |
| 13 | Andrew Bentley | LF | LF | LF | - |
| 14 | Murrad Kriouache | H | I | I | I |
| 15 | Maxime Puech | P | P | I | I |
| 16 | Bastien Canet | P | P | P | P |
| 17 | Anthony Marion | I | I | I | LF |
| 18 | Tyla Hepi | I | - | - | I |
| 21 | Gavin Marguerite | - | - | - | C |
| 22 | Danny Hulme | SH | SH | - | SH |

## 2016 transfers

Gains
| Player | Club | Contract | Date |
| Rhys Curran | Villeneuve XIII RLLG | - | - |
| Bastien Canet | AS Carcassonne | - | - |
| Tyla Hepi | Whitehaven R.L.F.C. | - | - |
Losses
| Player | Club | Date |
| Bruno Ormeno | Retired | - |
| Aaron Wood | Released | - |
| Florian Quintilla | Released | - |