Eager to discover a new field

Sometimes you get the chance of your lifetime by surprise – and then you have to take it. This happened to the team of Toulon in the semi-finals of the French Championship.

Six consecutive times before, HB Metz won the championship and in the 2010 semi-finals they were the great favourites against Toulon. Even after a draw in the first leg on home court, Metz were quite optimistic. Then, however, Toulon won by one goal and reached the final against Le Havre. In the end they celebrated the first ever French title of the club.

Now Toulon are in the Champions League – and right at their debut they have to play against two of the big favourites of the group phase: Larvik HK and Oltchim Valcea. But for coach Thierry Vincent this is not a bad starting point: "Our group is very tough with two front runners. We’ll do our best to improve our game and we want to gain some experience. We are united behind our club and country."

For Toulon it’s the second time to play a European Cup competition after spending a season in the Challenge Cup. They’re really hungry for international experience. "After becoming champions for the first time, it’s our aim to qualify for European Cup every year from now on," Vincent talks about the club’s objective.

And to secure success, the French team signed international experience: two Swedish internationals, Kristina Flognman and Therese Helgesson, arrived from the Danish club GOG. On the other hand, playmaker Pearl van der Vissel left for the German club Thüringer HC.

"We have to respect our experienced opponents," Vincent says, "but we’re eager to learn and discover a new field that will improve our performance."

Key facts

Newcomers: Kristina Flognman (from GOG Odense), Therese Helegesson (from GOG Odense), Audrey Deroin (from Mios Handball)

Left the club: Pearl van der Vissel (to Thüringer HC), Claire Achere (to Mérignac HB), Jivka Hristova (end of career)

Coach: Thierry Vincent (FRA, since 2009)

Find more information here.