Alexis Bourdon, edited by Alexandre Dalifard / Photo credit: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP
While the Rugby World Cup kicked off this Friday at the Stade de France in Paris, the French capital is not the only city in France to live to the rhythm of the competition. In Toulouse, where the largest fan zone in the country is located, able to accommodate up to 40,000 spectators, the coming weeks will be animated by the oval ball.
This Friday, the Rugby World Cup kicked off at the Stade de France with the opening match between the Blues and the All Blacks of New Zealand. If the atmosphere was great in the French capital, Paris is not the only city in France to vibrate for the oval ball in the coming weeks. This is also the case in Toulouse, the pink city, which is preparing to live to the rhythm of competition.
Toulouse, the largest fan zone in France
It will be rugby, everywhere and for everyone in the pink city during this World Cup. Place Saint-Pierre, an emblematic place in Toulouse, in addition to the refreshment bar and giant screens, the Chez Tonton bar, a true institution, has prepared accordingly for this World Cup. “We are adapting to the level of the terrace to accommodate as many people as possible, so that everyone can enjoy it. And for our part, in terms of staff, we have increased the number of people, just to be able to be sure that everyone is satisfied and enjoying the event”, assures the manager at the microphone of Europe 1.
And in the streets, a necessarily special atmosphere reigns in this stronghold of French rugby. “It’s super impressive to see that everyone is gathered for the same thing, that the city lives for that. Everyone is happy, there is celebration everywhere,” rejoices a supporter interviewed on the square. For this Toulouse resident, “rugby is a bit like a tradition”. “It’s nice to see the French team playing this World Cup at home. We hope it’s positive and that we win this World Cup,” he hopes.
Proof of the enthusiasm generated by this competition, it is in Toulouse that the largest fan zone in France is located, which can accommodate up to 40,000 people.