Drama in Toulouse camp over vaccination status

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Just weeks from the start of their maiden Super League campaign, there is trouble in the Toulouse Olympique camp, with one player set to leave and others to possibly follow over vaccine mandates.

The Examiner reports that TO star Mark Kheirallah is likely to walk out of his contract with the club over disagreement on being required to be vaccinated.

Under current French government rules, athletes who are not vaccinated cannot travel to and from the UK, which rules out any unvaccinated player travelling to an away match in France (or away matches for the two French teams in the UK). This will of course have a bigger impact on Toulouse and Catalans players as they will travel to the UK more than any English side will to France.

The report suggests the chances of the former Sydney Roosters and Wyong Roos player remaining at the club are low, but are locked in discussions with the group of unvaccinated players trying to reach a solution.

On Thursday night the club released the following statement:

Following recent government announcements related to the health restrictions imposed on athletes playing in France, Toulouse Olympique is indeed still in conversation with certain players on this subject.

The club wishes to respect medical secrecy and therefore will not reveal the names of the players concerned.

To date, the 27 players in the squad are still contracted to Toulouse Olympique XIII.

The club has no further comment at this stage.

Toulouse's inaugural Super League campaign is set to begin on Saturday 12 February, where they're scheduled to host Huddersfield at their home ground of Stade Ernest Wallon.