Castres Olympique coach Joe El-Abd has warned his players to expect an ‘unbelievably tough game’ at Thomond Park, writes James Harrington. Christophe Urios led Castres to Top 14 title but is leaving for Bordeaux next season. This time, El-Abd insists, players and staff are taking the European competition seriously. Oyonnax-bound El-Abd said that Castres’ long-held reputation for not taking European competition as seriously as they perhaps could should now be seen as ‘a thing of the past’. “There’s definitely been a conscious decision this year to take Europe as seriously as the Top 14.

Source: Irish Examiner December 08, 2018 05:37 UTC