As a player, Sylvain Houles was always a frustrated attacker - so it’s no surprise Toulouse Olympique’s coach is now imploring his side to express themselves.
The French newcomers visit Castleford on Friday fresh from picking up an historic first Betfred Super League win over champions St Helens. Arguably, that was the biggest night in the club’s history but - if they are to ensure top-flight survival - they know it can’t be a one-off. Ex-France winger Houles, 40, has been in charge for the last decade and led Toulouse's inspirational rise to the top.
They play attractive rugby and that is underpinned by the coach’s philosophy - and his own shortcomings as a player. Houles spent most of his career with Toulouse but only after stints with Huddersfield, London, Dewsbury and Wakefield.
He recalled: “I knew how to defend. But in attack I was always asking myself a lot of questions. Can I evolve? Can I get better? I was always frustrated as a player with my attack. So, when I started as a coach, that probably led me into wanting to make sure that my players are not frustrated like me!
“I want to encourage them to throw the ball around, to play, to see what’s in front of them and DO it.”
Houles, whose wife is from London, added: “I love England. I love the culture from the curry, to fish and chips and Beef Wellington. It was a great experience playing over there and the different people I learned from. We’ve brought a lot of English culture over here. In the house we have carpets! Houses in France don’t tend to have them!”
But, with Toulouse following Catalans into Super League, Houles is hoping modern French players now don’t need to move to England to advance.
“I want to help give that to the young French people so they don’t have to go across the Channel to play at that high level,” he said.
“They can set goals high and achieve with us. That’s the thing I’m selling and I love.”
Meanwhile, Houles has continued working on his family-run sheep farm - rising at 5am every day to milk them - even after stepping up to Super League.
“It’s a different life to rugby but it’s something that balances me; it helps take my mind off footy,” he explained, in Super League Stories, which will be aired on Super League’s YouTube channel on Wednesday night.
“And usually what they say about sheep is when one sheep goes somewhere, they all follow. If I could do the same with my players, that's good leadership. That's the whole idea. But it’s easier with sheep. They don’t ask as many questions as players!”
