Stade Toulousian — CA Brive-Correze (28-05-2023)

We arrive in Toulouse about an hour before the game, check into our hotel, and directly start the 20-minute walk to the stadium, to avoid getting caught in the rain. As we walk, there is thunder and lightening, and some light rain, but in the end all is well. We are not wet and the game is not postponed.

It is the last game of the regular season of the Top-14, rugby’s highest division in France. The game has been sold out for a while but fortunately TM got tickets through his rugby connections. They are just EUR 25, for seats behind the goal, next to the drum section of Toulouse. The Stade Ernest Wallon is a concrete monstrosity that holds 19.500, who are also here tonight. As always with rugby (union), the audience is mostly older and upper middle class — very white but quite a lot of women (including groups of women).

Toulouse is number one, but needs a win to finish first, while Brive is last and was relegated two weeks ago. After Brive goes up 0-3 through a penalty goal, it is an absolutely savage butchery. The first half is defined by penalties, injuries, and Toulouse tries. At half time, the score is 35-3.

In the second half, almost nothing happens. Toulouse scores a few more times but the supporters are preoccupied with doing the Mexican wave and watching the mascot be lifted up and down the stand.

The only noteworthy moment is at the end of the game, when Brive scores a try, just for the honor. It is quite impressive how a team that is already relegated, and has been destroyed, can still find the energy to keep fighting on. Well done Brive! Final score: 54-10!

I have to say that this is the first rugby game that was a disappointment. Stade Toulousain is one of the big clubs in French, and European, rugby and I was not very impressed by the atmosphere. Maybe it was the specific game, but I doubt it. The audience was too posh and too spoiled, I guess.