Toulouse Olympique are very pleased to introduce their fifth signing: Australian halfback and Wales International Joshua RALPH.
Joshua RALPH while at Brisbane East Tigers © Queensland Rugby League
Born in the Southport district of Gold Coast in Australia, Joshua RALPH discovered rugby league with the local junior teams of the Runaway Bay Seagulls and the Nerang Roosters. He then played in the Holden Cup – the NRL junior championship which brings together 16 clubs whose senior categories compete in the NRL – with the Gold Coast Titans then the Newcastle Knights. He went on starting in the Queensland Cup, or the antechamber of the NRL, with the Tweed Heads Seagulls, continued with the Brisbane East Tigers from 2017 to 2020, the North Sydney Bears (2021) and finally the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (2022).
Origins that led him to the international stage
Of Welsh origin through his grandmother, ‘Josh’ was called up to represent Wales in 2017, aged 20 at the time. He then participated in the 2017 World Cup, the 2018 European Cup and the 2022 World Cup, where he made the 3 group games, against Cook Islands, Tonga and Papua New Guinea. An opportunity here again for Toulouse’s head coach Sylvain HOULES to spot the potential of the Australian halfback: « It is, to be honest, the halfback we were looking for. On the offensive level, he attacks the line well, he shows speed and brings a lot of uncertainty. On a human level, he shows great maturity for his 25 years, he has studied our project well and he has in mind to bring us back”, Sylvain HOULES, TO XIII head coach.
Joshua RALPH representing Wales against Cook Islands at the RLWC in October 2022 © Alex Livesey/Getty Images for RLWC
Quality addition to strengthen the Olympian squad
The Olympian management wanted to build a competitive half-back pair for its new project to get back into Super League and secure its place there over the coming seasons. The association of Josh RALPH with Jake SHORROCKS delights Bernard SARRAZAIN, Toulouse’s President: “We are very happy to see Josh join our ranks and look forward to welcoming him to Toulouse. We were eagerly looking for a halfback to complete our group, and he fits on a sporting level but also human level, to what we wanted”. An equally thought-though decision from the neo-Olympian: “I am feeling very excited to join this great club and take on this experience with my family by my side. I think leaving your comfort zone forces you to do the things required to be successful. I look forward to the challenge ahead this coming season and have no doubt it will be a successful one.”
We will have to wait early January to see the new Olympian half-back join his teammates in training.
Technical sheet:
Name: Joshua – Last name: RALPH – Date of birth: 21/07/1997 (25 years old)
Height: 1m75 – Weight: 80kg – Position: half-back – Former clubs: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, North Sydney Bears, Brisbane East Tigers.
