Million Pound Game: 34-12 - Toulouse beat Featherstone to win promotion to Super League

Toulouse full-back Mark Kheirallah kicked four penalties and three conversions for an individual 14-point haul

Toulouse overcame Featherstone Rovers in the Million Pound Game to become the second French side in Super League for 2022.

Rovers, beaten by Toronto in 2019, were up against it when they turned round at half-time 16-0 down on French soil.

They did score two second-half tries through Brett Ferres and John Davies.

But tries from Mathieu Jussaume (two), Latrell Schaumkel, Harrison Hansen and Johnathon Ford did the job for Toulouse.

It caps a true breakthrough season for French rugby league, coming in the wake of Catalans Dragons winning the Super League leaders' shield and falling just short in Saturday's Grand Final against St Helens.

Mark Kheirallah kicked four penalties and three conversions for an individual 14-point haul as Toulouse won the honour of becoming the 24th club to be allowed into Super League.

And it was the former Catalans trio of 36-year-old Remi Casty, who confirmed his retirement at the end of the game, Tony Gigot and Eloi Pelissier, supplemented by a late try from former Wigan Grand Final winner Hansen, that helped lay the foundation.

Toulouse were given use of the Stade Ernest Wallon, the long-time home of the French city's rugby union giants, the reigning European champions.

And, in front of a passionate crowd of just over 9,000, on top of an unbeaten campaign in the second-tier Championship with 14 wins followed by a 51-12 semi-final victory over Batley, they were already looking good for promotion when they led 16-0 after just 24 minutes.

Latrell Schaumkel scored the second of Toulouse's two first-half tries

Centre Jussaume took an offload from former St Helens second-rower Dominique Peyroux to glide over for the first of his two tries after just five minutes.

That was converted by full-back Kheirallah, who kicked a couple of penalties before winger Schaumkel touched down a kick from Gigot.

Featherstone cut the gap when Australian half-back Dane Chisholm put former Leeds and England second-rower Ferres through a gap in the Olympique defence for a try converted by Craig Hall.

But, although Hall went close and Ferres had a second try disallowed, Jussaume eased the growing anxiety in the home camp when he took Pelissier's pass to cross for his second try in the 64th minute.

Veteran Davies' converted try just about kept Fev in contention but Kheirallah put Featherstone out of reach with another penalty before Hansen crashed through seven minutes from time and 33-year-old Cook Islands international Ford added a fifth try from the final play.

Toulouse - 'le Trek' to the big time . . .

Toulouse coach Sylvain Houles:

"I'm lost for words. It's unbelievable. Who would have thought a few years ago we would have a packed ground for a final who help get us promoted into Super League? They pushed the boys all the way.

"The boys have been outstanding all season, I can't credit them enough. We planned everything. When it works it's unbelievable. In the second half we let them come back but the boys really dug deep.

Toulouse prop Remi Casty:

"It's over for me. This was the last dance and what a day for it. This club has fought for 10 years to get into Super League. It tried in 2005 when Catalans won, but kept going. I'm thrilled for the club and for French rugby league. I'm disappointed Catalans lost [the Grand Final] but French rugby league is going up."

Toulouse try scorer Johnathon Ford:

"It's huge. It's big for rugby league in general to see the growth of the game, not just for us, but for the community of Toulouse and rugby league in France. It's one of the main reasons I hung around for so long. I'm so proud of all the players who have been a part of this."

Featherstone head coach James Webster:

"Toulouse were outstanding in the first 20 minutes. We've got no excuses. The challenge for next year will be promotion again.

"It will be a strong competition next year. Leigh will be strong, but I feel we will be up there competing again. We have a superb chairman in Mark Campbell.

"Toulouse will need to recruit. My own hope is that they play more French players to help develop the sport in France."

Toulouse: Kheirallah; Hitchcox, Jussaume, Vaivai, Schaumkel; Ford, Gigot; Hansen, White, Casty, Peyroux, Bretherton, Marion.

Interchange: Pelissier, Paulo, Garbutt, Sangare.

Featherstone: Walker; Gale, Hardcastle, Welham, Hall; Chisholm, Brown; Lockwood, Jones, Kopczak, Ferres, Halton, Field.

Interchange: Davies, Bussey, Parata, Ferguson.

Referee: Robert Hicks (RFL)

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