Tuesday 30 June 2020

Steve Brady of Catalan Media tells us how the likely resumption of SL is going down in Perpignan.

ANTICIPATION is building in Perpignan for the restart of Super League following the announcement of a return to training for Catalans Dragons.

Les Dracs will regather on July 6th to begin a mini pre-season programme before their first fixture against champions St Helens on August 2nd.

The Dragons will have had an unprecedented 21 weeks between games when they return to action against Saints at a venue to be announced in the UK but it’s the much-awaited return of Les Dracs to Stade Gilbert Brutus which has supporters in Perpignan wringing their baguettes in eager anticipation.
“It’s been such a long time, it’s been painful,” long-time supporter Roger Mourgues told us. “This club is one big family and it’s not the same when we’re not together. We’re just awaiting the date of the first home game.”

Only season ticket holders, sponsors and officials will be allowed into the Brutus under current anti-virus guidelines but as time passes there is hope that more fans will be allowed in – and the remote possibility of supporters from the UK at the Brutus before the end of the season.

“It’s better than nothing,” said Mourgues. “And if the virus continues to retreat maybe we will all be allowed in.”

The Brutus stadium is the heart of the community in the northern quarter of Perpignan, nestled between the airport and the city centre, and the lack of action has left a huge void in the area.

Early signs of life at the ground are already emerging with the club’s merchandise shop and brand new Brasserie Dragons bar/restaurant now open for business and coach Steve McNamara said his players couldn’t wait to get back to the Brutus pitch.

“I’m proud of the way the players have responded to this situation. Lockdown has been pretty severe in France but the players have all stuck to their individual programmes, they look fit and healthy and it’s obvious that they are raring to go,” he said.

“Sam Moa got clearance from the medical experts this week, he’s worked really hard and he’s ecstatic that he’ll get the chance to play again and we can’t wait to get him back out there.”

All that remains is for Super League fixture-planners to factor in fixtures in Perpignan. McNamara said: “From a Catalans perspective, the situation isn’t difficult, we’re here and ready to play home games under restricted crowds according to the latest government guidelines. The stadium is fit to host games, the club is making sure of that.

“There will be no quarantine to stop teams coming in and out of the country, or for us to visit England, the bio-secure documents are all there and lodged with the RFL in terms of how it could happen for all teams so the conditions are in place to have regular home and away fixtures.

“There is a clear method of travel available, we’re looking at flying in and out of the UK on the day of our away games during the early weeks of the restart so there is no reason why English teams can’t do the same and visit us.”

McNamara said it was crucial that his team were allowed home advantage, particularly in a shortened season with a revised four-team playoff.

He added: “Switching to a four-team play-off makes the whole competition tighter and there are less games for teams to catch up if they’ve dropped points at the start of the season. We’ve won three from four and we need to build on that right from the start. You can’t afford to get too far behind with just 22 games in total to play in a limited number of weekends available.

“Whoever wins the Grand Final is going to thoroughly deserve it this year as it’s going to be attritional. There are fewer games, but over a much shorter period of time. It’s not something you’d like to see every year but we have to get our teeth into it and let’s go.

“In some regards it could be even more special to win it than a normal season.”

Monday 29 June 2020

Monday round up #1 29/06/2020

 I am aware of how tardy I have been in keeping the website updated during the Covid-19 pandemic and have even toyed with the idea of sacking the whole thing off.

However, I am still here, for now, and keen to keep bringing Dracs news to the UK masses. 

This is all done without any official links to the club and without any sources, its all from using the internet and news sources to try and bring you the best comment. 

One new innovation I wanted to introduce was a round up of the weekends news in a regular Monday post, so here is number 1. Hope you like it. 


Joan Guasch
The owners Son has left the Dragons domestic Elite 1 side for Lezignan after many years of service. 
He is a reliable player and decent goal kicker so it will be interesting to see how he goes elsewhere and what the club does to replace him

Ben Pomeroy
The Aussie left the Dragons elite side many years ago before coming back at Warrington, our domestic side and Broncos Palau. 
It's reported he has left there and is likely to retire. 

Mike Mc Meekan
The Daily Mirror has reported that the England international Mike Mc Meekan is leaving Castleford Tigers to join the Dragons for 2021. 

Mixed reaction online to his probable departure with Cas fans seeming to think he was past his best and just looking for one last pay day. 

Dragons return to work
The excellent Forty20.news website has this morning posted an article about how the Dracs are going to be phasing their return to trianing. 

You can read the full piece here

...and finally
The last bit of club news this week surrounds the coach Steve McNamara who its fair to say has mixed reviews from this correspondent! 

However, following his recent coaching master class on the Super League website (which we shared here) he has appeared on the Rugby League United Podcast and it is a really fascinating listen. 

It has certainly helped sway my opinion even more on Steve and I would encourage you to listen by clicking here

If you see a story and think we've missed it, please use the contact form to get in touch. 

Friday 26 June 2020

2nd August confirmed as next Dragons match

Super league is back and Catalans are part of the season opening triple header on Sunday 2nd August. 

We will be playing St Helens away (gulp) at 1615. 

Come on the Dracs!!!!

Thursday 4 June 2020

Dracs to kick off Super league return ?

According to a number of reports on the internet (including some from sources we trust!), Catalans Dragons weather postponed match from earlier in the season at Wakefield will be the match that is re-arranged to restart Super League.

With the Dracs needed to spend time in England its looking like a block of games off mainland Europe for us with a trip to St Helens following a week later so that we are back level on matches before a full round of games the following week.

That would see us play as follows...

Wakefield Away 1st August Ko to be confirmed
St Helens Away 8th August  Ko to be confirmed

So we would have a mini pre-season in England with two away games ahead of the full recommencement of the league.

With pro sport officially banned until 1st September in France it might be that a number of other away matches fill the next three weekends and we then head back to France and play 5 at home on the bounce.

I like this plan because it means we don't have to wait as long as supporters of other teams. Although our home form has been bang average for the last couple of seasons under McNamara so the thought of a of block of home matches fills me with dread.

Fingers crossed the rates of death and infection continue to decline on both sides of the channel and these plans become reality.

Stay safe.