News

Toulouse and BO play `swap the prop`

Monday 08th September 2008

Revival: A try by Byron Kelleher secured victory for Toulouse against Biarritz

Former Toulouse prop Beno�t Lecouls has returned to the French champions and will start training with the rouge et noires from Monday after playing the first three games of the season for Biarritz, who lost on Sunday to....Toulouse!

In an almost comic twist of events, Lecouls travelled to La Ville Rose with his Biarritz team-mates on Sunday but didn't make the return journey.

The French international prop, who played for Toulouse from 2001 to 2004, was traded during the off-season in a move that saw Toulouse fly-half Valentin Courrent join Biarritz in exchange for Lecouls return to the French champs.

The two clubs however came to an agreement that allowed Lecouls to stay in Biarritz for the opening rounds of the Top 14 while they waited for the arrival of former Crusaders front rower Campbell Johnstone.

They deal was made before the LNR announced the fixtures for the 2008/2009 season - as a result Lecouls will start training will Toulouse just a matter of hours after being part of the Biarritz team that lost 20-6 at Ernest Wallon stadium.

The match was evidently also a strange experience for Courrent, who has had an excellent start to the season in the Biarritz number ten jersey after struggling to get game time at Toulouse.

"I was a game out of the ordinary for me," said Courrent after the match.

"There's always a bit of emotion when meet up again with your former partners and managers. It was difficult match but at the same time encouraging because there were some good aspects."

Toulouse half-back Jean-Baptiste Elissalde was relieved that his side finally produced the goods after an indifferent start to the season.

"We were feeling a bit nervous before this game," he said.

"We absolutely had to win or were would have find ourselves in a delicate situation. We are able to do what we needed top to win. Though we still have a lot of work to do to adapt to the [ELVs]."