Toulouse not the ticket for frustrated Castres fans

CASTRES rugby bosses have appealed to their fans to support them in Saturday’s Heineken Cup clash with Munster in Toulouse after it was revealed only 10,000 tickets have been sold for the encounter.

The French club announced in September that they would move the glamour clash from their 10,000 capacity Stade Pierre Antoine home to the 18,754 capacity Stade Ernest Wallon, situated 80 kilometres west of Castres.

But that decision was met with disbelief in some quarters, with local businesses particularly upset at missing out on the estimated 2,000 Munster fans who will descend on the south of France this weekend.

It has also irked some Castres supporters, who are unimpressed at playing the must-win game for the Top 14 side at the home of arch-enemies Toulouse.

“We don’t really have the capacity at Castres to receive teams like Munster,” claimed forwards coach Laurent Travers.

“Our only options for Munster were (to play) at either Toulouse or Bèziers.

“Playing Munster here, it’s like playing Real Madrid! They’ve been European champions twice.

“We must give them respect. In order to be ambitious, we have to recognise that rugby doesn’t only operate in a rugby world but in an economic world too.”

Travers appealed to fans to support the team on Saturday.

“We need to feel supported and that they are not just going to give us grief for playing at Toulouse,” said Travers.

“For our part we will have to ensure they are not disappointed.”

Meanwhile, Marcus Horan has recovered from the ankle injury which forced him to withdraw from the Munster squad for the Northampton tie.

The province’s A side are also in action on Saturday with a British & Irish Cup outing against Neath at The Gnoll.