Dragons face Castleford without Bird

Greg Bird is the biggest casualty of the Dragons pres-season with a broken bone keeping him out for at least a month.

Otherwise we are at full strength and will be looking to hit the ground running after the dismal start to 2018 we endured.

Here is the squad.

1. Tony GIGOT
3. David MEAD
4. Brayden WILIAME
5. Lewis TIERNEY
6. Samisoni LANGI
7. Matty SMITH
8. Rémi CASTY
9. Micky McILORUM
10. Sam MOA
11. Kenny EDWARDS
12. Benjamin GARCIA
14. Julian BOUSQUET
15. Mickael SIMON
16. Benjamin JULLIEN
17. Matt WHITLEY
18. Alrix DA COSTA
19. Mickael GOUDEMAND
24. Jason BAITIERI
29. Sam TOMKINS

Domestic side hammer Avignon (UPDATED WITH VIDEO)

The French domestic league side are starting to get some momentum after their latest victory.

The side traveled to Avignon and won 16-54.

Junior match highlights are below as they also won in Avignon.

And here are the domestic team highlights...

Tierney hat-trick sees off spirited TOxii

Sam Tomkins continued to hit the ground running as Dragons beat Toulouse on Friday evening at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.

Steve McNamara had picked his strongest available side and was rewarded as the Dracs raced out of the blocks.

David Mead continued his hot streak (which goes back to last season) and crossed within the first ten minutes.

The flood gates opened and by the interval the Dragons were 22 points to  0 ahead. Lewis Tierney had helped himself to three tries of his own.

The second half was less of an occasion with numerous substitutions and changes.

As with last week the Dragons were undone by their visitors and TOxii were back to one score before the end of the match.

It was a decent hit out and decent for the crowd to see a close encounter. Although I am sure they would have preferred an easy Catalans win. However, two years ago we managed to lose this game so progress is being made, I suppose.

On to snowy Yorkshire (if the Countryfile forecast is to be believed) this Friday and the big kick off.

Catalans Dragons (22) 22

T : David Mead, Lewis Tierney 3
G : Sam Tomkins 3

Toulouse Olympique (0) 18

T : Stan Robin, Gavin Marguerite, Paul Marcon
G : Mark Kheirallah 3

Dragons name full strength line up for Toulouse friendly

After a comfortable win over the President xii last weekend, Steve McNamara has recalled a number of big names for the clash with Toulouse tomorrow.

Looking at that list its a really impressive line up and fingers crossed we can gel and get another strong performance and result.

1. Tony GIGOT
3. David MEAD
4. Brayden WILIAME
5. Lewis TIERNEY
6. Samisoni LANGI
7. Matty SMITH
8. Rémi CASTY
9. Micky McILORUM
10. Sam MOA
11. Kenny EDWARDS
12. Benjamin GARCIA
13. Greg BIRD
14. Julian BOUSQUET
15. Mickael SIMON
16. Benjamin JULLIEN
17. Matt WHITLEY
19. Mickael GOUDEMAND
22. Lucas ALBERT
23. Antoni MARIA
24. Jason BAITIERI
25. Arthur ROMANO
29. Sam TOMKINS
Thomas AMBERT

Welcome to the 2019 Betfred Superleague

Here we go people. Let's see where the next 10 months takes us and whether the Dragons can go back to back in terms of trophy winning seasons.

Catalans back in Challenge Cup (UPDATED)

The RFL and Catalans Dragons announced an agreement had been reached for the club to participate in this seasons Challenge Cup. 

This came as part of the output to promote that both the mens and womens competitions would benefit from considerable sponsorship by bookmaker Coral. 

We are naturally please that our team can participate in the competition and are grateful that common sense has prevailed. 

The fact that no figures were revealed by either party makes us think that someone has had to make a considerable climb down, but we move on from here. 

Tomkins stars as Dragons beat Presidents XII

Three assists (maybe more if you count the pass before the scoring pass) was a brilliant return as Sam Tomkins made his Catalans bow on Friday evening.

With David Mead in try scoring form outside Tomkins there was plenty to admire in the attacking play if still some head shaking moments in defence.

Enjoy the match pictures by clicking here.

Dragons Catalans (26) 38

T : Arthur Romano 2, Tony Gigot, David Mead 3, Lambert Belmas
G : Sam Tomkins 3, Matty Smith 2

XIII du Président (6) 14

T : Bastien Escamilla, Jordan Flovie, Bernard Gregorius
G : Joan Guasch

Deal reached for Dragons to participate in Challenge Cup according to Total RL website

The well respected website Total RL is reporting that a deal has been done to ensure Catalans Dragons will participate in this seasons Challenge Cup.

(Although the cynic in me says we will get reffed out of it before the semi finals).

You can read the article here.

Jouffret leaves Dragons on eve of season

A short statement from owner Bernard Guasch

President Bernard Guasch: "After years of collaboration, Catalans Dragons’ CEO Christophe Jouffret no longer holds any position at the club."

Presidents xii to face Dragons on Friday.

Some familiar names and faces will be lining up to represent Elite1 against Catalans. A number of former and current domestic league players will be trying to put one over the reining Challenge Cup holders. 

Lilian Albert

Arnaud Bartès

Charles Bouzinac

Bastien Canet

Damien Cardace

Bastien Escamilla

Jordan Flovie

Pita Godinet

Jayson Goffin

Bernard Gregorius

Joan Guasch

Mathieu Khedimi

Thomas Lasvenes

Thibaud Margalet

Cyril Molinier

Romain Pourret

Saia Tanginoa

Benjamin Vergniol

Valentin Yesa

Franco scores again but Flovie crosses 5 times as reserves win in cup.

Dragons beat Ferrals 12-54 away from home to progress in the domestic cup competition.

 J. Flovie 5, R. Franco, Zafra, M. Laguerre 2, Vailhen were the try scorers.

Tell us where Dragons will finish

We are running a thread on our RLFans forum to discuss where the team will finish in 2019.

Please follow the forum link on the upper menu or click here and tell us your thoughts.

(You will need an RLFans account to post, they are free and easy to get set up).

TO XII 10-50 St Esteve

A return to form for St Esteve and something positive in the wake of yesterday's news about the Challenge Cup.

Here are the match highlights from the clubs official youtube feed.

The name's Bond. Challenge Cup Bond

The age-old adage says no taxation without representation. And yet, as associate members of the RFL, this is what appears to have happened first to Toronto and Toulouse and now to the Dragons.

Bonds are the issue, as is the overperformance of the Dragons in making the Challenge Cup final last season. All three clubs have been asked to put up bonds lodged against their participation in the 2019 Cup Final to offset against lower revenue from ticket sales should one of these clubs get to Wembley. All three have declined.

It's unclear what the sum was for the two Championship clubs, though said to be 'substantial'. In the Dragons case, it's said to be an eye-watering €550,000. Neither Toronto or Toulouse were ever going to be able to find that and instead set up their own Trans-Atlantic challenge for Cup Final weekend. Clever folk. Whether a Super League club could find that money is kind of moot when there's principle at stake and the Dragons have asked the RFL to 'look again' at the proposal.

There was a swell of goodwill and optimism with the inclusion of Red Star Belgrade in the competition this year, but that's all gone away with the treatment of these three associate members. It's Brexit as f--k for a start. British competition for British clubs and all that. Which you can shove up your backside as a game for which inclusivity and progressive values were why it even came to be in the first place.

Second, it's making these three clubs scapegoats for the RFL's inability to sell their premium competition (now that Super League has been hijacked by member clubs). There's no sponsor in place for the Cup in 2019. As sellers in a tough market, the RFL have a particularly hard job on their hands, but the way out of that is not to punish the overseas outliers you previously welcomed in to the fold.

It's clear also that as associate members, these clubs have been singled out. Without a voice - they are merely observers at the table - they can't really cause too much fuss unlike full member clubs with smaller fanbases and lower home attendances over the last few years. It's victimisation. Pick on those unable to fight back, and all to cover up your own deficiencies as an organisation.

Another age-old adage is that Rugby League must be pretty special to survive the string of amateurs that have been running it all these years. As it stands, we can only come to the conclusion that the RFL is not fit for purpose. We have no faith in them.

Dragons involved in Challenge Cup Bond row.

According to a number of media outlets, including the reliable "Independent" in Perpignan, the Dragons have asked the RFL to reconsider its request for a 500,000Eur bond (or as they call it a "deposit") to cover losses in case they win the Challenge Cup again.

Toronto and Toulouse have already said they wont be playing in the competition as a result.

Interview with former Dragon, Josh Drinkwater

Josh Drinkwater will forever be a Catalans legend.

In just over half a season he went from digging roads in Australia to lifting the Challenge Cup and keeping his team away from another Million Pound Game appearance.

He has since moved on to Hull KR, but was ranked as the biggest story in RL by New South Wales Rugby League down in Australia.

You can read the full interview here.

Have your say in Super league pods season predictions...

Our friends over at Superleague pod would love to hear Catalans fans thoughts on the season ahead.

The predictions will be part of an upcoming episode of the show.

It only takes a few minutes to take part so please click here

Thanks in advance.

James