Toulouse head into Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup showdown against Glasgow with more attention on the courtroom than the pitch, as a fresh salary-cap investigation threatens to derail their campaign.

The six-time European champions – led by superstar Antoine Dupont – spent Monday defending themselves before a French national league (LNR) disciplinary panel over the 2022 transfer of fullback Melvyn Jaminet, a move worth almost R9 million that the league believes may have breached Top 14 salary-cap rules.

READ: R25m salary cap fine for Toulouse

A ruling is expected this week, and the consequences could be severe, with a potential league points deduction hanging over France’s most decorated club.

Toulouse’s lawyer, Bruno Cavalie, refused to comment after the hearing in Paris, saying simply: “There will be no statement for now. We’ll see once the decision has been made.”

This is not the first time the Jaminet deal has caused trouble. The saga has hung over the club for months, and Toulouse have already paid over R25 million to the LNR as part of a settlement in March.

Head coach Ugo Mola tried to steer the focus back to rugby after last weekend’s win over the Sharks, but admitted the situation is impossible to ignore.

“Crying before being hurt would be useless,” Mola said. “Obviously there might be consequences. We will take responsibility for them, as we always have done.”

Despite the noise, Toulouse must now travel to a fired-up Glasgow side who opened their Champions Cup campaign with a statement victory away to Sale. With the pressure building, they’ll look to Dupont, who’s set for his third game back from a serious knee injury, to steady the ship.

ALSO: Toulouse teach Sharks a lesson

For Mola, Glasgow represent the biggest threat in their pool.

“I think they are the big threat in the group,” he said. “They’re a good side who have been in constant progression for a few seasons now.”

– AFP

Weekend teams

Investec Champions Cup Round 2 fixtures (SA times)
Friday, 12 December
Leicester Tigers vs Leinster (10pm)
Saturday, 13 December
Stormers vs La Rochelle (3pm)
Sharks vs Saracens (5:15pm)
Clermont Auvergne vs Sale Sharks (5:15pm)
Bordeaux Bègles vs Scarlets (7:30pm)
Munster vs Gloucester (7:30pm)
Glasgow Warriors vs Toulouse (10pm)
Sunday, 14 December
Harlequins vs Bayonne (3pm)
Castres vs Edinburgh (3pm)
Toulon vs Bath (5:15pm)
Northampton Saints vs Bulls (5:15pm)
Bristol Bears vs Pau (7:30pm)

Photo: Lionel Hahn/Getty Images