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York Knights will be hoping to end an 11-year wait for a victory over Toulouse Olympique when they begin their 2024 Betfred Championship home campaign on Sunday (3pm) at the LNER Community Stadium.
York have lost their last 10 meetings with Toulouse, a run stretching back to 2013 when the Knights prevailed 30-28 in the Betfred Challenge Cup at Huntington Stadium.
Kriss Brining bagged a double that afternoon, with Thomas Carr, Nat Browne and Jack Lee also among the try-scorers for the hosts.
The Knights have been unable to topple Toulouse since then, although the most recent meeting of the two sides ended in a fiercely competitive 18-14 defeat at the LNER Community Stadium.
Toulouse established a 12-4 half-time lead after a Jason Bass try was sandwiched in-between Guy Armitage and Greg Richards scores.
Bass completed his double before Brenden Santi put York 14-12 ahead heading into the final 10 minutes.
Olympique found the decisive try in a dramatic finale though, with Anthony Marion grabbing the winner.
Toulouse have retained the core of the 2023 squad, including the likes of Olly Ashall-Bott, Harrison Hansen and Eloi Pelissier, which only missed out on an immediate return to Betfred Super League after a 18-14 Betfred Championship Grand Final to London Broncos.
A pair of internationals have been added to the French side's ranks in the off-season in the form of Cook Islands winger Paul Ulberg and Lebanon forward Joel Roumanos arriving to Sylvain Houles's squad.
Like York, who suffered a 36-20 defeat at Doncaster on the Betfred Championship's opening weekend, Toulouse will also smarting from a round one loss, having been edged out 24-22 at Olympic Legacy Park.
That outing was Toulouse's only outing of the year, having chosen not to feature in the Betfred Challenge Cup and the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup.
While Andrew Henderson's Knights were unable to kick off their league campaign with a victory at Doncaster, they will welcome back centre Jesse Dee, who has served out his one-match suspension, and captain Liam Harris, who is set to return from injury.
Half-back Nikau Williams begins the first of a four-match suspension after receiving a Grade E Head Contact charge following York Knights's defeat at Doncaster RLFC.
York Knights return to the LNER Community Stadium on Sunday (3pm) against Toulouse Olympique at the LNER Community Stadium. Tickets are available to purchase NOW!
