Muristek
Toulouse Olympique were up against it in Super League even before players started to leave over vaccine rules
By Gavin Willacy for No Helmets Required
When Toulouse Olympique clinched promotion to Super League last October, the joy of their success was not limited to the 9,000 fans in Stade Ernest Wallon or the pink walls of that beautiful city. Yet, just two weeks from kick-off in the big time, their survival hopes have been severely dented.
The shock departure of talisman Johnathon Ford and the potential loss of three more senior players – believed to include star full-back Mark Kheirallah – is due to France’s Covid rules and players refusing to be vaccinated. Ford has spent 10 years with the club, leading them on an extraordinary march from the Elite League to Super League via League 1 and the Championship titles. For him to walk away now, citing the “holistic” needs of him and his family, seems unfathomable and astonishingly cruel to coach Sylvain Houles and the club.
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