As the Top 14 teams approach the final sprint, internally, we are already preparing for next season. On the side of Toulouse, many recruits have already been announced (Capuozzo, Retière, Jaminet etc). Should follow Paul Graou, scrum half from Agen, who had a full season in the bays of Armandie. Yes but now, looking closer, we realize that there should be a traffic jam at the number 9 station next season, on the banks of the Garonne. Behind the essential Antoine Dupont, there are no less than 4 scrum halves! Baptiste Germain, Martin Page Relo, Paul Graou and Alexi Balès will compete. We take stock.
Top 14. Paul Graou, THE rookie that Toulouse needed as an understudy for Antoine Dupont?The news fell on Monday. 23-year-old scrum-half Martin Page-Relo has extended his contract at Toulouse for a year. This ended next June. Page-Relo, this season, it’s 14 games in all competitions for 4 starts. But the player trained at L’Isle Jourdain asserted himself and notably delivered very good performances in the red and black colors. What, inevitably, push the club to extend it. talented young playerhe will face competition from another talented number 9, Baptiste Germain. Currently injured, the 21-year-old former Bordeaux-Beglais has played 16 games (8 starters) this season. Promised to a bright future, he has shared the role of understudy of Antoine Dupont with Martin Page-Relo for a few weeks. Yes, but now, as mentioned above, Paul Graou will also join Toulouse next season. At 24, the SUA player, injured for a month, comes out of a 25-game season with his club. One of the best Pro D2 players without a doubt. Above all, Graou has the distinction of also being an excellent scorer. You will therefore have understood, three young players with high potential, who should therefore fight to obtain playing time.
𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐨 extends to 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 💫
Trained at the Stadium, our scrum half will continue his career at the Club next season 🤝
Axis 3️⃣: 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐫 𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐜 𝐬𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 #Trajectoire2027 💪 pic.twitter.com/OkVQM18kpT
– Stade Toulousain (@StadeToulousain) May 23, 2022
But let’s not forget Alexi Balès either. Lining number 1 of Dupont at the start of the season, chaining the matches, the former Rochelais gradually saw his playing time slipping away, the fault of lackluster performances and the hatching of a Page-Relo , or the confirmation of a German. To tell you, Balès has not played since February 5 and a defeat in Perpignan. So an eternity. In his last three appearances, the latter has only played 30 short minutes. Tiny. A departure would therefore have been logical, especially in view of the competition which promises to be tough next season. Except that the Toulouse leaders have extended it for an additional season, until June 2023. If the SUA has long wanted to bring back the 32-year-old scrum-half, it will ultimately be nothing.
Balès in bad shape, Graou the good surprise?
Logically, Antoine Dupont will therefore be the number 1 scrum-half in Toulouse. But in his absence during the doubloons, the battle will rage. Without showing bad language and in view of the last few months, it will probably be very difficult for Alexi Balès to scratch playing time. Unless the latter finds the level which was his in La Rochelle. But faced with very strong competition from the three young shoots, it will be very hard to afford a place in the sun. Especially since the player seems to be experiencing a terrible crisis of confidence. Then, between Page-Relo, Germain and Graou, we would give a small advantage to the first two cities. At least for the start of the season. Why ? Simply because Paul Graou has never known the Top 14 and its demands. Some players, very good at the lower echelon, find it difficult to take the plunge. It may take a period of adaptation. Conversely, Germain and Page-Relo have been able to toughen up this season and prove that they fully meet the expectations of the Toulouse staff. Graou could then reverse the trend and be the pleasant surprise of Haut-Garonne recruits, especially since his quality of kicking game is not negligible. Not to mention the injuries that could come to reshuffle the cards. But all of that is another story.
Top 14. Mallez, Germain, Cramont… Mola intends to rely on his young guardOne thing is certain, there may be a traffic jam next year at number 9 in Toulouse. And the possibility of loaning some of these players does not seem to be on the agenda. The competition therefore promises to be strong between the various players.
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