Newcastle Thunder vs Toulouse Olympique Programme

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NEWCASTLE

Kingston Park, Saturday 2 AUG, 15:00 KO // Betfred Championship
JACK JOHNSON 1
ALEX YOUNG 2
MARCUS WALKER 3
ALEX CLEGG 5
ALEX DONAGHY 6
NIKAU WILLIAMS 7
JAY CHAPELHOW 8
CURTIS DAVIES 9
MITCH CLARK 10
BRAD GALLAGHER 12
CONNOR BAILEY 13
DENIVE BALMFORTH 14
TED CHAPELHOW 15
ROBERT TULIATU 17
JAKE LIGHTOWLER 18
GIDEON BOAFO 20
EVAN LAWTHER 21
JAKE ANDERSON 22
CONNOR MOORE 23
MAX FLANAGAN 25
MAC WALSH 26
JACK MILLER 27
TYLER WALTON 28
PADDY BURNS 29
EVAN SIMONS 40
1 OLLY ASHALL-BOTT
3 REUBENN RENNIE
4 MATHIEU JUSSAUME
5 PAUL MARCON
6 JOSH RALPH
7 JAKE SHORROCKS
8 LAMBERT BELMAS
9 CALUM GAHAN
10 HARRISON HANSEN
11 MAXIME STEFANI
12 DOMINIQUE PEYROUX
13 ANTHONY MARION
14 ELOI PELISSIER
15 SITALEKI AKAUOLA
16 JOSEPH BRETHERTON
17 HUGO PEZET
18 GUY ARMITAGE
19 BENJAMIN LAGUERRE
20 GREG RICHARDS
23 ROBIN BROCHON
24 PIERRE-JEAN LIMA
27 DIMITRI BISCARRO

Good afternoon and welcome back to Kingston Park for
the second week in a row. Your support is and always
will be massively appreciated.
I’d like to extend a welcome to Toulouse, making the
journey over and if there are any supporters following
suite, welcome and we hope you have a fantastic evening
and time on Tyneside.
We’ve got a great task at hand this afternoon, we know
how good Toulouse are but they have been on the end of
some interesting results, especially on the road.
Having spoken to Chris, he and the lads are confident
going into the game and you can expect the group to put
in one shift and they certainly won’t go down without
a fight.
We continue to assess the position the club are in and
are preparing accordingly but we know the season isn’t
quite over yet so we’re taking it week by week, starting
with Toulouse this afternoon.
The game is the second of four home fixtures on the
bounce, with league leaders Featherstone Rovers and
Cumbrians Barrow Raiders up next.
It’s important that however the season ends, we get
behind the lads and support them all the way. It would
be fantastic to see all of you, our supporters and the
lifeblood of the club, down at Kingston Park to cheer
them on for our final two fixtures.
We know it’s been a difficult season but your support
has been second to none and certainly doesn’t go
unnoticed. It is massively appreciated and we hope you
stick with us going forward.
KEITH CHRISTIE
Chair of Newcastle Thunder
4

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CHRIS
THORMAN
6

CHRIS THORMAN
Good afternoon, Thunder supporters and
welcome back to the second Kingston Park
fixture in as many weeks.
Thank you once again for getting down and
supporting the lads, it doesn’t go unnoticed
and is massively appreciated by not only
myself but the group as well.
I’d like to welcome today’s opposition
Toulouse to Kingston Park and any of their
supporters who have made the journey
across. We hope your visit to the North
East is worthwhile.
We know it’s a big task at hand this
afternoon, but we’ve worked incredibly
hard in training this week and the lads are
well up for the challenge.
Toulouse have had a great season but, on
the road, they’ve had a mixed bag in terms
of results and all six of their losses have
come away from home.
We know that will be playing on their
mind and we’ve got to play on it too. We’ll
certainly take it to them and won’t go down
without a fight.
The game is the second home fixture in
a row, and we’ve still got another two to
come against Featherstone Rovers and
Barrow Raiders.
We know we’re in a difficult position in the
league but we’re not down yet. If we are to
end this season on a high, then these last
three home games can be the difference.
Make sure you get yourself down at
Kingston Park, support the lads and give
them that extra push. It truly is massively
appreciated.
CHRIS THORMAN
Head coach
7

CLUB
NEWS
FINAL TWO FIXTURES
AT KINGSTON PARK
Tickets are on sale for the
club’s final two remaining
home fixtures.
Newcastle Thunder host league
leaders Featherstone Rovers
next week in another Friday
night lights game at Kingston
Park.
The fixture kicks off at 8pm on
Friday, September 9.
The following week, Thunder
look to sign off the season in
style against Cumbrian
rivals Barrow Raiders in their
final home game of the season.
The fixture takes place on
Saturday, September 16 in a
3pm kick-off.
Tickets can be purchased
for both games with prices
available at £10 for adults and
£3 for under-16s.
Concessionary pricing is also
available from £8 and young
adults and students can get
tickets from just £5 - buy
yours HERE.
10

LAST
REMAINING
ACADEMY
FIXTURES
Thunder Academy will compete
in two final fixtures before
the rugby league season draws
to a close.
Our U18s side host
Huddersfield Giants ahead
of the first team’s fixture
against Featherstone Rovers
on Friday, September 8.
The game kicks off at 5:45pm
and entry to the fixture will be
included in your match ticket.
Alternatively, supporters can
pay £5 (cash only) on the door.
Signing off the season, our
U18s travel to Hull KR on
Wednesday, September 13 for
a 7pm kick-off.
JAY CHAPELHOW
REACHES THUNDER
APPEARANCE MILESTONE
At the club’s away fixture
against Bradford Bulls
on Sunday, August 20, Jay
Chapelhow recorded his
50th appearance in Thunder
colours.
Jay joined the club ahead of
the 2021 season, making his
debut in a 38-24 victory at
Oldham RLFC in the Betfred
Championship.
During his three seasons at
the club, Jay has score nine
tries for Thunder with eight of
those coming this season.
Jay’s twin brother Ted also
recorded his 50th appearance
for Thunder earlier this
season.
11

COMMUNITY
NEWS
MASTERS TOUCH
RUGBY RETURNS
TO KINGSTON
PARK
Following the
success
of
last season’s
programme,
Newcastle Rugy
F o u n d a t i o n
will be hosting
Masters touch
rugby sessions
across a six-week
programme.
From Monday,
September 4, the
hour-long sessions
take place weekly,
starting at 6:30pm.
The sessions are
open for anyone
over the age of
35, male or female
and of any rugby
ability. It’s a great
way to get fit and
socialise so be
sure to sign up!
The cost to enter is
£2.50 per session
and can be booked
by clicking HERE.
14

THUNDER COMMUNITY SCHOOL
CONNECTIONS
Thunder Community are here to help deliver
rugby in your school.
Available within both primary and secondary
schools, sessions are delivered by full-time,
enhanced DBS checked, full NGB qualified
Thunder Community development officers.
With two packages available, ‘Try Rugby’ and
‘Thunder Community Champion’ there are plenty
of opportunities to explore to encourage
participation in rugby league in schools.
The packages are designed to help meet the UK
Government’s plan of seeing schools deliver two
hours of high-quality physical education a day.
If you’re interested in finding out more, please
contact community@newcastle-thunder.co.uk
CONGRATULATIONS
ON YOUR GCSE
RESULTS!
All at Newcastle Rugby Foundation want to pass
on their congratulations to everyone receiving
their GCSE results earlier this week.
If you’re interested in a sporting career, the
Foundation still have spaces on our TyneMet
Rugby Excellence course, allowing you to
combine your studies with training for rugby
full-time.
Across the male and female programmes, there
are three rugby squads offering plenty of
opportunities for you to explore.
The course offers invaluable insights from
our three full time coaches and our strength
& conditioning coach as well as the use of top
tier facilities.
From an education point of view the course
can be a great pathway to university for a wide
variety of courses!
If you would like any more information, please
email: niall.johal@newcastle-falcons.co.uk
15
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram: @falcons_community Facebook: Falcons Community Twitter: @FalconsCF LinkedIn: Newcastle Rugby Foundation

Rugby League is played by two teams of 13
players, playing on a pitch that is 100m
long.
Games are played in two 40-minute halves,
with the team with the highest score after
the combined 80 minutes winning the game.
You may run forwards with the ball, and you
may kick the ball forwards, but as in rugby
union, you can only pass the ball backwards
or sideways.
If you pass the ball forwards or knock the
ball on (that is deflect the ball towards the
opposition, try line by contact with the
body or arms) possession is handed over to
the opposing side.
In rugby league, teams are allowed up to six
tackles to score. Once a player is tackled,
the tackler must let go of the ball carrier
and his teammates must retreat 10 meters.
The ball carrier is allowed to stand up and
then play the ball back to a team mate to
start the process again.
If a team is tackled a sixth time, possession
of the ball is handed over to the defending
team who gain possession of the ball from
the spot of the tackle.
To make it more difficult for the other team
to score, the attacking team will usually
kick the ball away on the fifth tackle to
increase the distance between the opposition
and the try line.
Try – Worth four points a try is scored when
downward pressure is applied to the ball on
the ground in the opponents in-goal area.
The ball can either be ran into the in-goal
area or kicked through and touched down.
Conversion – After scoring a try teams
can add additional points by successfully
kicking a goal called a conversion. Taken
from a spot 20 meters from the goal line
and perpendicular from where the try was
scored. Kicking the ball over the crossbar
and between the posts scores two points.
Penalty – If the opposition commits a foul,
teams can opt to attempt to score a goal
by kicking the ball between the posts and
over the crossbar from the spot where the
infringement took place, this also scores
two points.
Drop Goal – A drop goal can be scored by
kicking the ball through the posts and any
point in open play. To score these, the ball
must be dropped onto the ground before
being kicked. Worth just one point, a drop
goal is rarely seen, but in close games it
can be the difference between victory and
defeat.
In summary, if you can count to six, you are
going to enjoy a game of rugby league.
A team will run with the ball, get tackled,
play the ball backwards and repeat this
process up to six times in the attempt to
score up to six points at a time, before the
other team will have a go.
The object of the game is to score more
points than the opposing team with several
ways to do this during a match.
16

Ball Steal
When two or more people are involved in
a tackle, a ball steal occurs when a player
from the defending team takes the ball off
the attacking player who has been tackled.
Dissent
If a player disputes decisions taken by the
referee or verbally abuses the officials
then a penalty for dissent may be awarded.
Double Movement
If the ball carrier is tackled and held before
the try line and then lifts their arm
to reach out and place the ball over the try
line, this is classed as a double movement
with a penalty awarded to the defending
team
High Tackle
If a defending player contacts the head of
the attacking player carrying the ball, a
penalty for a high tackle will be awarded.
Late Tackle
If the attacking player passes the ball to a
team-mate and the defender has had time
to pull out of his attempted tackle but carries
through, he has committed a late tackle
and will be penalised.
Not 10
When a player doesn’t retreat behind the
next 10m line or goes too early when defending
the next tackle of a set, a penalty
will be awarded. This can also be awarded
as an offside penalty.
Obstruction
When an attacker prevents a defender from
getting to the ball carrier to effect a tackle
by getting in between the two players, a
penalty is awarded for obstruction
Offside
As well as an infringement around being
10m from the play the ball, offsides can also
be awarded in instances where players are
in front of a kicker.
Tackle in the air
If a player has jumped to take the ball in the
air and the defending player makes no attempt
to play at the ball, but instead goes
straight for the player or makes a tackle
before the gathering player returns to the
ground, a penalty will be awarded
For a host of other offences, referees will
simply reset the tackle count bay awarding
a “Six Again”
This is signaled by the referee waving a
clenched fist above his head from left to
right.
17
17

ALEX
CLEGG
“
Seeing where we
are in the league it’s
probably hit me a bit
harder than anyone
else.
Alex Clegg returned for a second spell at
Newcastle Thunder ahead of the 2023 season,
choosing to join his head coach Chris Thorman
in making the move back to the North East.
Clegg is a product of the Thunder Academy
system and made try-scoring first team debut
against West Wales Raiders in 2018.
The 24-year-old then spent a further three
seasons on Tyneside before joining Workington
Town for the 2022 season.
In his first season back with Newcastle Thunder
in 2023, Clegg has become a regular feature
amongst Chris Thorman’s starting thirteen.
Making 24 appearances, the winger also leads
the club’s try scoring charts with nine to his
name.
Although winger is his natural position, due to
varying injuries throughout the Thunder squad,
Clegg has stepped up when called upon and also
featured in the centres and even in the second
row.
In Thunder’s latest fixture, a defeat to
York RLFC Knights, Clegg made his second
appearance within the forwards and despite a
strong individual performance expressed his
disappointment in the result.
“We’re obviously very disappointed with the
result.
“It was a game that we targeted as one that we
could win.
“We felt as though we had been playing well
18

“
We’ll put
everything in the
last few games
and just give it a
real go.
quite recently and even showed
that with how we started in
the first half, it was a really
close game.
“So naturally we’re a bit
disappointed to not come away
with the two points.”
Understanding some of the
struggles his side faced, Clegg
reflected on why the result
didn’t favour the home side.
“I think as a team we just
struggled to get our yardage.
We were kicking from our own
half most of the time, when
they were pinning Gideon a lot
in our left corner.
“So, all in all territory felt like
it was always in their favour
and we didn’t really get a
chance to get up the other side
of the field.
“Recently we’ve been relatively
good at converting chances
and it was a bit frustrating we
didn’t get the opportunity to
do so this time around.”
20

Reflecting on his positional
transition to the forwards,
the former Academy graduate
expressed his admiration for
the role.
“To be fair I’ve enjoyed it - it’s
been better than standing on
the wing for 80 minutes doing
nothing!
“I’ve got used to it the last
couple of weeks and somehow,
I’ve managed to do alright. Not
quite sure how, but I’ve made
too many tackles now so I’m
certainly feeling it.
“It’s certainly a bit easier on
the wing. I won’t be moaning at
any of the forwards ever again
after these couple of stints.
“I’ve been blowing honestly,
like physically it’s been harder
than anything I’ve ever done
so they deserve all the credit
they get.
“I’m not entirely sure on the
plan going forward, so we’ll
see what Chris says. I’m happy
to stand up when needed and do
my part for the team.”
Looking ahead to this
weekend’s mammoth challenge
against second placed
Toulouse Olympique XIII and the
current situation around the
club and its league position,
Clegg offered an honest
assessment of the mood within
the squad.
“You’ve just got to try and keep
going for yourself rather than
anything else because you
know how the situation is.
“We’re all very aware that
we’re sitting at the bottom of
the league and that we’ve got
some tough games coming up,
but it’s that personal pride,
you know.
“Everyone’s got something to
play for and you just got to try
and focus on yourself these
last few games and have a
decent dig.
“Hopefully we’ll get a few
decent performances before
the end of the season. But
yeah, I think it’s more like
individual motivation rather
than anything else.
“Seeing where we are in the
league it’s probably hit me a
21

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“We’ve got to try and take
some positives out of these
next couple of games
hit harder than anyone else.
I’ve been here since I was 18
now and most of my career has
been here so it’s really tough
to take.
“It hurts. Everyone will be
hurting, but I have certainly
felt it having come through the
Academy here.
“I want to see this club in the
championship competing and
it’s just not been that this
season.
Giving an indication of what
supporters can expect going
forward, he said: “We’re not
waving the white flag yet and
we’re not going down without
a fight.
“We don’t want to be seen as a
team that gives up and I don’t
think we have been this season,
we’ve always fought to the end,
each game.
“We want to play to that very
last moment against Batley
away on that on that Saturday.
We don’t want to be seen as a
team that’s giving up.
“We’ll put everything in the
last few games and just give it
a real go.”
With Toulouse up next, Clegg
provided an insight into what
we can expect from last year’s
Super League side.
“Obviously they’re a good
team, there’s no denying that.
They’ve had some great results
this year, so it’s going to be
tough, and we know that.
“We have just got to try and put
in a decent performance, and
you never know we might be in
for a surprise result.
“We’ll be working hard this
week and we’ll try and get
the most out of the game
on Saturday and build into
Featherstone next week and
then Barrow after that.
“We’ve got to try and get take
some positives out of these
next couple of games and then
build going forward.”
23

Name
Thunder
career
apps
Thunder
career
points
Thunder
career
tries
Season
2023
apps
Season
2023
points
Season
2023
tries
Name
Thunder
career
apps
Thunder
career
points
Thunder
career
tries
Season
2023
apps
Season
2023
points
Season
2023
tries
Jake Anderson 10 0 0 3 0 0 Evan Lawther 4 8 2 4 8 2
Connor Bailey 69 40 10 26 16 4 Jake Lightowler 7 0 0 7 0 0
Denive Balmforth 23 16 4 23 16 4 Jack Miller 20 50 3 20 50 3
Gideon Boafo 40 68 17 14 24 6 Connor Moore 18 12 3 18 12 3
Jay Chapelhow 51 44 11 24 24 8 Evan Simons 153 172 43 8 0 0
Ted Chapelhow 59 28 7 22 20 5 Robert Tuliatu 22 4 1 22 4 1
Alex Clegg 74 144 36 24 36 9 Marcus Walker 19 8 2 19 8 2
Mitch Clark 49 16 4 22 12 3 Mac Walsh 5 4 1 5 4 1
Curtis Davies 27 4 1 27 4 1 Tyler Walton 4 0 0 4 0 0
Alex Donaghy 45 52 13 22 16 4 Nikau Williams 21 85 2 21 85 2
Max Flanagan 3 4 1 3 4 1 Alex Young 14 20 5 14 20 5
Brad Gallagher 39 20 5 17 4 1
Jack Johnson 47 108 27 14 20 5

26
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1.
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Wing
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Centre
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Wing
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Scrum-half
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Prop
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Hooker
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Prop
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Second row
13 Connor Bailey
Loose forward
14 Denive Balmforth
Hooker
Ludwell
Electrical
Ludwell
Electrical
1.
1.
1.
1.
15 Ted Chapelhow
Prop
17 Robert Tuliatu
Prop
18 Jake Lightowler
Loose forward
20 Gideon Boafo
Wing
28

1. 1.
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1.
21 Evan Lawther
Centre
22 Jake Anderson
Prop
23 Connor Moore
Prop
25 Max Flanagan
Fullback
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Loose forward
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NEWCASTLE
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2023
29

FIXTURES & RESULTS
JANUARY
F: SAT JAN 18 V KEIGHLEY COUGARS (L 12-24)
FEBRUARY
BC: Sun Feb 5 v Swinton Lions (W 6-18)
BC: Sat Feb 11 v Toulouse Olympique XIII (L 58-0)
BC: Sun Feb 19 v Keighley Cougars (L 44-24)
BC: Sun Feb 26 v Featherstone Rovers (L 56-6)
MARCH
BC: Sun Mar 5 v Barrow Raiders (D 18-18)
BCC: Sat Mar 11 v Stanningley SARLC (W 16-58)
BC: SAT MAR 18 V LONDON BRONCOS (L 6-36)
BC: Sun Mar 26 v Widnes Vikings (L 24-16)
APRIL
BCC: Sat Apr 1 v Rochdale Mayfield ALRFC (W 12-
22)
BC: FRI APR 7 V SHEFFIELD EAGLES (L 20-44)
BC: Sun Apr 16 v Whitehaven RLFC (L 31-6)
BCC: Fri Apr 21 v York RLFC Knights (L 22-18)
MAY
BC: SUN MAY 7 V HALIFAX PANTHERS (L 16-36)
BC: Sun May 14 v York RLFC Knights (L 26-22)
SB: Sun May 28 v Sheffield Eagles (L 38-32)
NEXT TIME AT KP
V FEATHERSTONE ROVERS
FRI SEPT 8th
BETFRED CHAMPIONSHIP
Kick-off: 20:00
JUNE
BC: FRI JUN 2 V BRADFORD BULLS (L 12-28)
BC: SUN JUN 11 V BATLEY BULLDOGS (L 12-26)
BC: SUN JUN 18 V KEIGHLEY COUGARS (W 18-16)
BC: Fri Jun 23 v Sheffield Eagles (L 40-0)
JULY
BC: Sun Jul 2 v London Broncos (L 56-10)
BC: SUN JUL 9 V WHITEHAVEN RLFC (W 30-12)
BC: Sun Jul 16 v Halifax Panthers (L 50-12)
BC: SUN JUL 30 V SWINTON LIONS (W 25-19)
AUGUST
BC: SAT AUG 5 V WIDNES VIKINGS (L 6-50)
BC: Sun Aug 20 v Bradford Bulls (L 36-8)
BC: FRI AUG 25 V YORK RLFC KNIGHTS (L 6-20)
SEPTEMBER
BC: SAT SEP 2 V TOULOUSE OLYMPIQUE XIII (3PM)
BC: FRI SEP 8 V FEATHERSTONE ROVERS (8PM)
BC: SAT SEP 16 V BARROW RAIDERS (3PM)
BC: Sun Sep 24 v Batley Bulldogs (3pm)
KEY: BC = Betfred Championship, BCC = Betfred Challenge Cup,
SB – Summer Bash, F = Friendly.
(Home games in capital letters)
FIRST TEAM
30

RESERVES & ACADEMY
MARCH
R: Sat Mar 4 v St. Helens Reserves (L 72-4)
R: SAT MAR 18 V LONDON BRONCOS RESERVES (W 48-6)
U16: Wed Mar 22 v Huddersfield Giants Academy (L 66-4)
U18: SUN MAR 26 V LEEDS RHINOS ACADEMY (L 0-84)
R: FRI MAR 31 V CASTLEFORD TIGERS RESERVES (L 10-22)
APRIL
U16: WED APR 5 V BRADFORD BULLS ACADEMY (L 20-30)
U18: Thu Apr 6 v Bradford Bulls Academy (L 78-16)
R: Sat Apr 15 v Huddersfield Giants Reserves (L 32-18)
U18: THU APR 20 V HULL FC ACADEMY (L 10-76)
R: FRI APR 28 V WARRINGTON WOLVES RESERVES (L 6-54)
MAY
U16: Wed May 3 v Castleford Tigers Academy (L 44-14)
U18: SUN MAY 7 v ST. HELENS ACADEMY (L 110-4)
R: Sun May 14 v Hull FC Reserves (L 58-12)
U18: Sat May 20 v Warrington Wolves Academy (L 68-6)
R: FRI MAY 26 V WAKEFIELD TRINITY RESERVES (L 14-32)
U18: SUN JUN 18 V WAKEFIELD TRINITY ACADEMY (L 18-72)
R: SUN JUN 25 V LEIGH LEOPARDS RESERVES (PP)
U16: Wed Jun 28 v Hull KR Academy (L 30-10)
JULY
U18: Sun Jul 2 v London Broncos Academy (L 46-26)
R: Sat Jul 8 v Wigan Warriors Reserves (PP)
U16: WED JULY 12 V WIGAN WARRIORS ACADEMY (L 8-88)
U18: Sat Jul 15 v Castleford Tigers Academy (L 96-12)
R: FRI JUL 21 V LEEDS RHINO RESERVES (L 46-12)
U16: WED JULY 26 V LEEDS RHINOS ACADEMY (PP)
U18: SUN JUL 30 V BRADFORD BULLS ACADEMY (L 28-46)
AUGUST
R: Sat Aug 5 v Salford Red Devils Reserves (L 32-10)
R: Sat Aug 19 v Bradford Bulls Reserves (PP)
SEPTEMBER
U18: FRI SEP 8 V HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS ACADEMY (5:45PM)
U18: Wed Sep 13 v Hull KR Academy (7pm)
JUNE
R: Sat Jun 10 v Hull KR Reserves (PP)
U16: Sat Jun 17 v London Broncos Academy (W 18-26)
NEXT TIME AT KP
V HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS ACADEMY
FRI SEPT 8th
Kick-off: 17:45
KEY: R = Reserves, U18 = Under-18s, U16 = Under-16s
PP = Postponed
(Home games in capital letters)

IN OPP
TOULOUS
Throughout 2023, Toulouse have won 17 and
lost six games. Their away form proving to
be problematic with all six of their losses
coming on the road.
They’ve dropped points against newly
promoted Swinton Lions, Sheffield Eagles,
Bradford Bulls and Batley Bulldogs as well
as falling to a brace of defeats against
London Broncos.
Toulouse currently sit 2nd in the standings
for points scored with 736, Featherstone
are the only side who are above them and
the same applies for their defensive
efforts. They have the second best defence
in the Betfred Championship, conceding
only 298 points from 23 fixtures.
Toulouse Olympique XIII currently sit
second in the Betfred Championship
standings on 34 points, eight points adrift
from league leaders Featherstone Rovers.
Although for many clubs this would seem
a promising and healthy position to find
themselves in, by Toulouse’s standards this
year might be considered a disappointing
campaign.
Relegated from the Super League ahead
of the 2023 season, there was a lot of
expectation for Toulouse to sit at the top
of the table for the entire campaign but as
rugby league has proved on many occasions,
any team can beat anyone on their day.
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OSITION
E OLYMPIQUE XIII
SYLVAIN
HOULES
HEAD
COACH
Toulouse Olympique’s head coach is former
French professional rugby league player Sylvain
Houles.
Houles took over the reins at Toulouse in 2012
and had previously enjoyed a playing career
in the Super League with Huddersfield Giants,
London Broncos and Wakefield Trinity, making
his debut in 2000 against Bradford Bulls.
The 42-year-old also featured in the
Championship playing for Dewsbury Rams and
his current team Toulouse Olympique XIII, where
he spent the majority of his playing career.
Across three seasons at the club, the former
utility back made 59 appearances scoring five
tries.
Houles also earnt international honours during
his playing career, where he was capped 13
times for his country, France, and in return
crossed for five tries.
Before hanging up his playing boots, Houles
had initially taken up a player-coach role at
Toulouse before his appointment as head coach
in 2012.
A memorable moment from Houles coaching
career was leading Toulouse to victory over
Featherstone in the 2021 million pound game
which saw the club promoted to the Super
League for the first time in their history.
33

IN OPPO
THREE T
JAKE SHORROCKS #7
(HALF-BACK)
Jake Shorrocks signed for Toulouse Olympique
XIII ahead of the 2023 season. Joining the
French side from today’s hosts Thunder
following a two-year spell on Tyneside.
In those two seasons, Shorrocks made 30
appearances in Thunder colours, scoring five
tries and tallying up 38 goals, taking his total
points tally to 96.
In his maiden season across the channel,
the 27-year-old has enjoyed an emphatic
campaign. Featuring regularly in Toulouse’s
starting thirteen, Shorrocks has recorded an
incredible 198 points from four tries and 91
goals.
The half-back began his career at Super
League side Wigan Warriors and has enjoyed
loan spells at Workington Town, Swinton Lions
and Salford Red Devils.
GUY ARMITAGE #18
(CENTRE)
Guy Armitage signed for Toulouse Olympique XIII
ahead of the 2021 season, joining from fellow
Betfred Championship side London Broncos.
Armitage is a dual code centre having begun his
professional sporting career in rugby union.
Brother of former England internationals Delon
and Steffon Armitage, Guy has featured for
former Gallagher Premiership sides London
Irish and Wasps as well as London Welsh, London
Scottish, Jersey and Ealing Trailfinders who
featured in the second tier of English rugby
union.
In three seasons in Toulouse’s roster, Armitage
has featured 34 times, returning an incredible
31 tries. The 31-year-old is enjoying his
best campaign to date this year, where in 17
appearances he has scored 21 tries.
34

SITION
O WATCH
JOSH RALPH #6
(SCRUM-HALF)
Josh Ralph is in his first season at Toulouse
Olympique having initially playing his trade in
the Queensland Cup for Easts Tigers and North
Sydney Bears.
For 2023, Ralph is another to enjoy a stellar
season, where the 26-year-old has scored 13
tries from just 20 appearances, including a
hat-trick against Bradford Bulls in Round 19.
The Australian-born scrum-half also holds
international honours for Wales, qualifying
through his grandmother. Ralph has earnt seven
caps for his nation, returning four tries.
35
Photography credit: Batley Bulldogs