MOURAD BOUDJELLAL’S REIGN as owner of Toulon is set to come an end after 13 years in charge of the Top14 club, according to reports in the French media.
It is being reported that investor Bernard Lemaître, who made his money through manufacturing plastic bags, has increased his shares in the club to 65%, and will take control of the club from Sunday.
Lemaître has steadily increased his stake in the club over the past few seasons. In June 2018 he owned 25% of the shares, before further investing over the summer to take him up to 44%. He is believed to have taken 65% of the shares in early October, with an announcement set to be made in the coming days.
Lemaître, 80, will not take full control of the club immediately, with Boudjellal, born and bred in Toulon, potentially remaining as President until at least the end of the season.
Toulon have enjoyed huge success under Boudjellal, 59, who has invested heavily in the club. In 2006 they famously signed former New Zealand captain Tana Umaga on a one-year contract despite playing in the second division at the time, and have continued to offer lucrative contracts to high profile overseas signings.
Having firmly established themselves as a Top14 club since Boudjellal became President, Toulon won three consecutive Champions Cups between 2013 and 2015, as well as claiming one Top14 title.
They currently sit fifth in the Top14 table, and are top of their Challenge Cup pool.
Bernard Jackman and Murray Kinsella join Gavan Casey to discuss eye-gouging, Munster’s scrum-half situation, and the rest of the provincial news.
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Hilarious how the owner made his money, as Toulon are only a plastic rugby entity. With a bit of luck they’ll be down in Pro D2 soon.
@Richard: Plastic in what sense? 100+ year history, averaged 12,000 fans in the early 00′s while in ProD2, really knowledgeable fans who are incredibly welcoming and has one of the best matchday atmosphere’s in rugby. Oh and they’re one of the few clubs that turn a profit. Irish provincial fans can be so snobby and self righteous that it’s easy to forget the provinces as currently operating were creating in the mid 90′s, struggled to get fans through the gate till successful in the early to mid 00′s and don’t have to worry about their finances.