France: Aix-en-Provence Argonautes secure first victory in beating Toulouse Ours

The Aix-en-Provence Argonautes (1–2–1) finally broke into the win column, edging the Toulouse Ours (1–3) 17–14 in a nail-biting D1 Elite contest that delivered the Argonautes their first victory of the 2026 season.

Ground game sets the tone
Both teams leaned heavily on the run early. Aix-en-Provence opened the scoring with a field goal after a sustained drive, but it was the big plays that defined the first half. Running back Antoni Giglio broke free for a 60-yard touchdown, answered shortly by Toulouse’s Sami Poles on a 40-yard scoring run. The Argonautes held a narrow 10–7 lead at the break.

Late heroics seal the win
Toulouse took their first lead in the second half when quarterback Nicholas Eilers found receiver Pierre Hilderald through the air. But Aix-en-Provence responded when quarterback Gabriel Fernandez connected with Bastien Guillemain on a critical long pass with just five minutes remaining. The Argonautes defense held firm down the stretch, denying Toulouse a late response and securing the narrow win.

Argos break through
The victory marks a significant moment for Aix-en-Provence, who had been searching for their first win all season. For Toulouse, it’s a frustrating loss after showing signs of momentum last week. The Ours competed well but couldn’t finish in key moments, while the Argonautes showed resilience when it mattered most to finally get in the win column.

Source: Fédération Française de Football Américain