“Will he be out on the pitch? We will see. Nothing is clear or definitive“, said Pierre Mignoni before the meeting with La Rochelle two weeks ago. This time, it is done. Charles Ollivon (46 caps) is set to make his big return to action, almost 9 months on from his last match on 4 January against Racing 92. The international back-rower will be on the bench to take on Section Paloise on Saturday.

Very good news for RCT, who need to get back to winning ways after the narrow defeat at Bayonne, but also for France, who may be able to count on him for the November tour. The Toulon bench, incidentally, will not be short of experience or power, with the likes of Baubigny, Alainu’uese, White, Nonu and Sinckler on it.