World Footy News

A new team in France is taking to the air with the new Toulouse-based Blagnac Aviators set to make an impact in the CNFA as early as next season (later this year) if they get their way. Whilst the 2015/16 season has not long finished, the Aviators have been spending their time wisely throughout the year to grow something special for themselves and their supporters, their city and French footy in general.

Blagnac is a suburb of Toulouse city, just five kilometres from the Toulouse CBD and home to the Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, hence the aviation reference in the team’s moniker.

Rob Aziza is one of the club’s co-founders and is excited at the development of the Blagnac Aviators to date and what the immediate and longer term future holds for the fledgling club.

“We just have created this new team at the end of this season in order to promote and develop footy around the local region. Toulouse is from now on proud to have two teams, one in the south of the city, the historical club, the Hawks, and one in the north, the Blagnac Aviators.”

“We would like to make Toulouse one of the strongest spots for development of footy within France. Most of us have been playing for the Toulouse Hawks before, with little experience in footy (1 or 2 years), but the two clubs have decided to get along in order to fasten its development and we are therefore having the support of some of the veterans players with great skills and experience.”

“To grow the club and its popularity we aim at focusing on recruiting young rugby players, given that we are surrounded by this sport in this region and that both of us, founders, used to belong to some important rugby clubs of Toulouse. We have successfully set up a series of trainings and initiations where about 40 amateurs came to discover the sport, supported by some key players of the club.”

“Many more exhibition games and training sessions are planned between both clubs from the city in order to allow an accelerated cross development and get more time on the field to the players. We are participating this summer at most of the key sporting events of our region to raise awareness and we are also getting involved in introducing the sport in schools.”

“Our team will be affiliated with the CNFA (French National League) and will participate in the French Championship in which we hope to get a great result for our first year. We are aiming at a starting workforce of 20 players for this first season and hope to attract young rugby players who are seeking for an enhanced experience as soon as they finish their rugby season.”

During the 2015/16 season the footy scene in Paris enjoyed a strong and extremely successful growth, with the new Paris Cockatoos taking out the CNFA premiership in just their first season as a footy entity. The Blagnac Aviators are in a great position to add to the Toulouse footy scene in the same way, with a focus on being successful sooner rather than later.