the essential
Tarnais and Haut-Garonnais challenged each other this Saturday, October 5 in the evening at the Pierre-Fabre stadium. The meeting was, as usual, engaged, sometimes nervous but without excess. If the scenario turned in favor of the men of the CO (28-23), an event which occurred the day before the meeting somewhat electrified the debates.
The debates remained correct… but virile. This Saturday, October 5, one of the major clashes of the Top 14 rugby season took place at the Pierre-Fabre stadium in Castres. The CO players hosted their neighbors at Stade Toulousain for a highly anticipated derby every season.
On the pitch, a few moments of tension but a good, committed game from the players in the match (whose scenario turned to the advantage of the CO, 28-23, a defensive bonus for Toulouse). In the stands, a few moments of friction without overflowing were noted.
Although this derby may have been very hot in the past, the climate had calmed down in recent seasons. Particularly since the departure of Christophe Urios, Tarnais manager from 2015 to 2019 (and from 2002 to 2005 before), whose enmity with his Stade counterpart Ugo Mola is known.
Also read:
INTERVIEW. Castres – Stade Toulousain: “We pedal a little next to the bike” laments Ugo Mola after Toulouse’s defeat in the derby
Gillian Galan’s column
However, this year’s derby was marked by renewed tension. The reason? A radio column by Gillian Galan. Friday October 4, the day before the meeting, the ex-player who played for the “red and black” house (2011-2020) made remarks which did not go unnoticed in the morning show of France Bleu Occitanie, radio which employed as a columnist.
“This weekend, no time to think,” he said. “By going to our inbred friends in Castres, where we know, it’s going to be constant war, the supporters with drooling on their lips, no game and a s**t match… Nothing to worry about worry. I hope that Toulouse will sweep Castres away and that we can laugh and sing after the match.”
Also read:
Castres-Stade Toulousain: Toulouse took part in the evening! How the melee precipitated the defeat of the “red and black” in the derby
Words that caused a stir in the Tarn. Contacted by La Dépêche du Midithe Montalbanais pleaded humor, certainly grating, and apologized. “It was completely second-rate. I’m a roommate, I’m like that. But I love Castres, I have good friends who play there! […] Honestly, I’m sorry, it hurts my heart if it hurt people! That wasn’t the goal. I responded to everyone who wrote to me on the networks.”
The next day, Saturday 5 match day, La Dépêche du Midi dedicates its Tarn departmental front page to this controversy.
Also read:
ZOOM. Castres-Stade Toulousain: it was open when closed! We decipher this original strategy which marked the derby
The exit of Didier Lacroix
Did the episode influence the motivation of the people of Castres to challenge their powerful neighbor Toulouse? Not impossible. As soon as the final whistle blows, and the success of the CO, the young fly-half Louis Le Brun is interviewed at the edge of the pitch by Canal +. “It’s important to beat Toulouse, especially on our soil.” From the second sentence, Gillian Galan’s column arrives on the table. “We’re a land of inbreds apparently, so it’s cool to win, it’s a little wink, it’s not bad. […] At the time it stung us, even if we excuse it because we know it was a bit humorous on his part. But it’s true that there are words not to say, you have to be careful what you say sometimes.”
Also read:
ANALYSIS. Castres-Stade Toulousain: the CO finally pulled out its muscles! How the Tarnais overthrew the “red and black”
Almost at the same time, in the bowels of the Pierre-Fabre stadium, the president of Stade Toulousain Didier Lacroix announced to the journalists present that he would like to speak, “to return to a pre-match episode”. “Under no circumstances, of course, can we condone idiotic, incoherent and completely inappropriate comments in the world of rugby,” he said.
Continuing: “We will never condone the rise of speeches which insult our adversaries, even less Castres. I am not sorry for Gillian’s comments, they are his business, it is up to him to take full responsibility for them. We absolutely do not assume responsibility for them, so I will not allow myself to apologize for these comments in his place, it is up to him to do so.”
Also read:
REPLAY. Castres-Stade Toulousain: “Toulouse losing two games in a row is very rare!” The CO savors its new victory in the derby
And to conclude: “Stade Toulousain still wants to play derbies against Castres like today, winning some, losing some, but with the joy of everything we know in rugby.”
