In a thrilling encounter at the Stade Vélodrome, the Stade Toulousain delivered a stunning performance against RC Toulon, securing a decisive 50-16 victory on May 10, 2025. This win not only showcased Toulouse's dominance but also confirmed their place in the Top 14 semi-finals with three matches remaining in the regular season.
The match kicked off with a record-breaking attendance of 66,818 spectators, marking the highest ever for a rugby match at the Vélodrome. The atmosphere was electric as fans from both sides filled the stands, eager to witness a clash between two of the top teams in French rugby.
Toulouse, coming off a disappointing exit from the Champions Cup, was determined to bounce back and maintain their lead in the Top 14 standings. They entered the match with 79 points, while Toulon, sitting third with 67 points, was desperate for a win to bolster their playoff aspirations.
The game started with an early penalty try awarded to Toulouse just 9 minutes in, as Toulon's Baptiste Serin received a yellow card for a cynical foul. This set the tone for a match that would be marred by indiscipline from the home side. Following the penalty try, Toulouse quickly extended their lead with a try from Mathis Castro-Ferreira at the 14-minute mark, converted by Romain Ntamack, who had returned to the starting lineup after a lengthy injury layoff.
Toulon managed to respond shortly after, with Esteban Abadie scoring a try at 7 minutes, but their momentum was short-lived. Despite a spirited effort, Toulon struggled with discipline, receiving multiple penalties and cards throughout the match. Their woes deepened when Serin, already on a yellow, received a second yellow card just before halftime, resulting in a red card and leaving Toulon to play the remainder of the match with just 14 players.
At halftime, Toulouse led narrowly at 14-13, but the red card proved pivotal. The second half saw Toulouse capitalize on their numerical advantage, scoring six unanswered tries. Santiago Chocobares opened the scoring for Toulouse in the second half with a try at 48 minutes, followed by a try from Naoto Saito at 57 minutes. Paul Costes added another at 63 minutes, showcasing Toulouse's attacking prowess.
The floodgates opened further as Toulouse continued to dominate. Mathis Lebel scored at 66 minutes, and Pierre-Louis Barassi followed suit at 72 minutes, both tries converted by Paul Graou, who had replaced Ntamack after he was sidelined due to concussion protocol. Graou capped off the scoring with a try of his own at 78 minutes, bringing the final score to a staggering 50-16.
Toulon's Esteban Abadie expressed his disappointment after the match, stating, "It's shameful. To concede 50 points in our stadium, in front of our families, is a disgrace. We have a very good team in Toulouse, but this is unacceptable. Now we need to go back to work." On the other hand, Toulouse's coach, Ugo Mola, praised his team's resilience and adaptability, saying, "We had some demons to exorcise in the upcoming weeks. The red card allowed us to be more ambitious. It’s a lot of work to qualify for the semi-finals, and we want to finish strong."
The match not only highlighted Toulouse's attacking strengths but also exposed Toulon's defensive frailties. With this victory, Toulouse solidified their status as the team to beat in the Top 14, while Toulon faces a critical period ahead as they seek to regroup and recover from this heavy defeat.
As the regular season approaches its conclusion, Toulouse's focus will shift towards maintaining their momentum heading into the semi-finals, while Toulon must address their discipline issues if they hope to secure a playoff spot. The stakes are high, and both teams will need to bring their best as the season reaches its climax.
