Romain Ntamack warns Toulouse over tough Top 14 start

Toulouse’s pursuit of a fifth consecutive Top 14 title will be tested from the opening weekend, with Romain Ntamack stressing the need to collect points immediately. The fly-half says the champions cannot afford to fall behind in the race for the league’s top two places.

Toulouse returned to training in early August, later than several rivals after a lengthy previous season. The shortened preparation has left the club with little time to build momentum before a demanding start. Their first four fixtures are against La Rochelle, Bordeaux-Bègles, Vannes and Montpellier.

Ntamack also underlined the squad’s continued appetite for victories and trophies. Toulouse have set their objectives for the campaign, but he considers a strong opening essential because every club has a high-quality squad and dropped points can become difficult to recover later.

The champions begin on September 6 with a difficult away match at La Rochelle. Bordeaux-Bègles, Vannes and Montpellier follow in the next three rounds, giving Toulouse an immediate measure of their readiness after the compressed preparation. With the season yet to start, the warning concerns the challenge ahead rather than any current league position or form.