2021 Superleague Fixtures

 

The full 2021 fixtures have today been released. 

Of course there is a full list of caveats about moving for television and global pandemia. 

Can't wait now !!! 

St Esteve 26-16 Villeneuve

St-Estève XIII Catalan (18) 26

T : Rougé 3, Jobe

G : Brochon 5

Villeneuve (4) 16

T : Melhout (5), Tuitahi (50), Dubertrand

G : Brioux 2

A 7th win in a row sees our domestic league side leap to the top of Elite 1 playing some dynamite rugby in the process. 

Credit to Villeneuve though who never let the game get away from them and played a part in another entertaining match streamed live on Youtube. 

Knowing me, knowing you - new contract for Yaha

 Fouad Yaha has signed a new contract with the club to keep him a Catalan until the end of 2022. 

Aside from his spell in union, he has been a loyal and high performing member of the Dragons side and we are delighted to have him. 

With Lewis Tierney and David Mead who either played or could fill in on the wings not longer at the club, it will be hoped Yaha can stay fit and keep his phenomenal tries to games ratio going. 

More than a try every two games at the top level of the sport is exceptional and let's hope he keeps that up in 2021. 

Trent Robinson is back*

*kind of

Sir Trent Robinson of Perpignan is going to be back in France, but not as head coach of the Catalans Dragons. 

Robbo is to join forces with another former Dracs supremo in Lauent Frayssinous to guide France through this autumns Rugby League World Cup. 

The story broke over the weekend and this article on Love Rugby League sums all the key points up. 

France has a number of really excellent players and if they can get their act together off the park could still be a factor at this world cup. 

They will certainly be entertaining to watch and I can't wait to see how they go. 

Toulouse 6-36 St Esteve

 Its another win for the Dragons as we enjoy a period of matches being played consistently in Elite 1. 

The domestic league arm of the club has now won 6 on the bounce but the standard of the league is such that this is still only enough for 3rd place. 

However with a play off system in place Justin Murphy's men will be a team the others will want to avoid should their be status quo until the season ends. 

This was another match where the Dragons showed their physical nature and refused to back down. A side with Greg Bird on the bench would hardly be otherwise set up would it?

There was a downside to the win with exciting prospect Arthur Morgue sustaining an ACL injury that not only ends his Elite 1 season but Super League as well. We wish him a speedy recovery. 

Toulouse (6) 6

T : Laguerre

G : Pallarès

St-Estève XIII Catalan (18) 36

T : Vailhen, Franco 2, Khedimi, Jobe, Zafra, Colchero

G : Brochon 4

St Esteve 46 Limoux 24

I really enjoyed watching this points fest and despite the scoreline suggesting otherwise there was plenty of admirable defence to admire. 

St Estève XIII Catalan (16) 46

T : Robin Brochon, Arthur Mourgue, Corentin Le Cam, Arthur Romano, Mathieu Laguerre, Ugo Perez, Romain Franco, César Rougé

G : Arthur Mourgue 6, Robin Brochon

Limoux (14) 24

T : Eli Levido, Tony Maurel, Zac Santo, Jordan Drew

G : Eli Levido 4

Despite plenty of covid related stoppages its now 5 wins in a row for St Esteve as we edge towards the play offs. 

With talk of NRL players coming on contract to boost our squad numbers for 2021 Super League we call again for Steve McNamara to have a look internally. 

Could Romain Franco do a job at centre for example? 

Jordan Flovie and of course Correntin le Cam also continue to earn rave reviews. 

Let's wait and see and hope!

Don't forget the Love Rugby League weekly French coverage...

Visit from this link or the menu above...

Are Dragons resigned to losing Folau?

Steve McNamara has told the Totalrl.com website that unless his family situation changes back in Australia there will be no update regarding any potential return to the club by Israel Folau. 

Despite being contracted to the club for 2021, the Australian centre has been back in Brisbane attending a family emergency and we wish the family the best with regards to that. 

There has been a lot of speculation and the piece addresses that and looks to set the record straight on where the club and players talks are. 

You can read it here. 

Super Ben Garcia to captain the Catalans

 There is a void of leadership not just playing skill left by the departure of Remy Casty to TOxii. 

Ben Garcia has been appointed club captain for 2021 replacing the great man. 

Of the players at the club he is the right appointment and we would like to wish him well. 

Whare signs

 New Zealand international Dean Whare has joined Catalans on a 2 yesr contract ahead of the 2021 Superleague season. 

Welcome Dean, we hope you enjoy your stay with the Dracs. 

St Esteve launch UK online store

 We have been lobbying for this for ages and the club has listened. 

An O'neills online store has launched with shirts for our domestic Elite 1 team. 

There is also training kit, which is similar in essence to the main Catalans Dragons clothing but with the different colouring to the badge. 

Click here to shop. 

There's no smoke without fire... Folau on the verge of Dragons exit

Despite the club issuing strong denials about a pending exit for Israel Folau this always felt like a case of when not if. 

Steve McNamara was playing the right game by saying there were no issues with his controversial centre coming back to Europe for pre-season the fact the club are clearly in the market for centres was a red flag. 

They are looking to replace David Mead was the response and whilst that is true the rumblings about Folau from the Australian media was enough to keep the alarm bells ringing in my head. 

This isn't the time to judge whether he has been a success at the club or what his legacy will be. This is the time to get this resolved one way or the other and for us to move on if that is what we need to do. 

The wife and I discussed it as we made our coffee this morning and her response was more direct that mine... "Yet another overpaid NRL player using us to get back in the sport and get their profile up". 

If he is bound for St Geroge then being back in an area close to where he grew up might be enough of an explanation. 

Whare for owt thau Dean?

 A number of outlets, including Total RL, are linking Catalans Dragons with a swoop for Kiwi centre Dean Whare. 

Should the deal be concluded (and there is a feeling it will be done this week), he will join from Penrith Panthers in the NRL. 

It looks like the potential signing would be as a direct replacement for David Mead who left the club at the end of the 2020 campaign. 

Gigot heads home to Avignon

 

The man who won us the 2018 Challenge Cup Final (albeit not single handedly!) has moved back to France from Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. 

Tony Gigot left the Yorkshire side last week and has been quick to link up with his hometown club Avignon in the French Elite 1 competition. 

Tony remains one of our favourite ever Dragons so we are delighted to see him continuing his career and closer to home.