Three-time Champions Cup winner Jocelino Suta joins Toulon women's coaching staff

Jocelino Suta, the Vanuatu-born forward who spent a decade at Toulon winning three Champions Cup titles, has returned to the club as a forwards coach with their women’s side, Rugby Club Toulon Provence Méditerranée, ahead of the 2026/27 Élite 1 Féminine season.

Across a 13-year playing career, the 43-year-old made 233 appearances for Toulon and earned six caps for France. He came off the bench in the 2013 and 2014 Champions Cup Final victories against Clermont and Saracens respectively, part of a squad that included Jonny Wilkinson, Bakkies Botha, Matt Giteau and Carl Hayman. In 2015, Suta made seven tournament appearances as Toulon claimed a third consecutive European title.

Suta brings prior coaching experience to the role, having worked with Toulon’s academy and most recently serving on the coaching staff of XV du Coudon in Fédérale 1 last season. He joins fellow ex-Toulon forward Mickaël Ivaldi on head coach Stéphane Beyt-Gamonet’s staff. Christine Gassiole has also arrived as defence coach this offseason, while 44-cap France centre Sandrine Agricole has been appointed backs coach.

The appointment is part of a broader wave of recruitment at the club. Toulon have already signed versatile Springbok Women back Jakkie Cilliers, former Wallaroos captain Grace Hamilton — who has previous Élite 1 experience with Montpellier — USA Women’s Eagles player Malia Isaacs, and 27-year-old Brazil international Taís Prioste. France Under-21 internationals Sueline Tavares Monteiro, Alixe Valence and Marilou Le Calvez have also joined the squad.

The ambitious rebuild comes after Toulon survived their first season back in Élite 1, avoiding relegation as Stade Villeneuvois Lille Métropole dropped to Élite 2.