Toulouse rugby injury crisis ahead of Clermont match, Digi Mart USA News (Toulouse, France): Ugo Mola said shortly after last Sunday’s defeat at Pau, the club’s first loss after seven straight wins in all competitions, that he was eager for the international break. The pause offers a welcome respite for clubs like Stade Toulousain, which has suffered an unprecedented wave of injuries since the start of the 2026-2027 season.
“We are losing two players per match,” Mola had said weeks earlier. The trip to Pau again proved him right, as Anthony Jelonch (concussion) and Joshua Brennan (calf) joined the injury list.
Only two senior players remained available, along with the only two players released by Fabien Galthié, and two of the squad’s last ball carriers.
Including uncertain players, the club had 29 potentially unavailable players out of its 37 professional contracts at the start of the week. Mola noted that Willis, Marchand and Merkler had returned to training, but the numbers remain striking.
Several internationals, including Elías, Rapetti, Mallia, Kinghorn and Capuozzo, are with their national teams, while Neti and Graou were also called up to Marcoussis.
Mola said the team must now prepare for Saturday’s home match against Clermont with a largely inexperienced side. The backline will feature several young players, and the halfback pairing will be unusually inexperienced at this level, including Daroque, Llaveria, Delpy and Richardis.
The squad will rely on energy and youth to try to keep its place at the top of the standings.
The French espoirs championship has no fixtures this weekend, which the source describes as the only mildly positive news for the club.
