Reports of an extension for Folau

According to the French rugby union website Rugbyrama, Israel Folau has resisted the temptation to follow Dimitri Pelo and Fouad Yaha into the Top14 by refusing to sign a contract with Montpelier for that sports following season. 

It is reported that the Australian is close to agreeing a contract extension with the Catalans Dragons, a deal which will keep him in the 13 a side code. 

I am not sure how I feel about this to be honest. 

Much as I deplore the views he has shared, the investment the Catalans have made deserves a greater return than the couple of games before lockdown ahead of him clearing off to union for a bag of money. 

What is a positive sign is that the club are working on contracts for next season already with the key thing being keeping the strong core of the side together. 

New French team down under...

https://pacifique13.com/en/home/

A french speaking Rugby League team is bidding to join the lower leagues of Australian domestic competition and has launched their new website.

Pacifique Treize Rugby League is an Intrust Super Cup expansion bid for a team representing the French speaking Pacific Island territories of New Caledonia, Vanuatu, French Polynesia (Tahiti) and Wallis and Futuna that will be based in Noumea, New Caledonia.  

Laurent Garnier (not the 90's house DJ from the "F comms" label, that I know of) a man from Perpignan with an Australian wife is behind the bid and we wish him well.

I wonder if we might see some French prospects looking to try out and play down there going forward should the bid be successful.

Fakir calls time on his career

Former Dragons forward Jamal Fakir has taken this break from the game as his cue to hang up his boots and retire from the game. 

Fakir was most latterly of our second favourite French club, Palau Broncos having also played domestic rugby for Lezignan. 

We would like to wish him all the best in his retirement. 

Bearing up in lockdown...

Where to start with 2020. 

Lock down life is now starting to get on my nerves a bit. I am working hard looking out of the window at the latest day of Lincolnshire sunshine. 

I miss the training, playing, camaraderie and enjoyment of being around my own rugby team. As well as watching (and generally moaning) about the performances of Catalans Dragons. 

The game is getting a hefty loan of £16m from the UK government and our club is looking to Paris for a response if reports in the media are to be believed. 

We could be in this for a while yet, and with sport being banned in France until September at the earliest to prognosis that the Dragons might be part of this season in Superleague looks remote unless we can get the team out of France and through a UK quarantine so they can play all their matches away from home. 

Too many questions is making my mind ache so I am going back to work... 

Stay safe.