TOxii dual reg agreement signed

 See the official website for more. 

Where will Dragons finish in 2023?

 

So where will this unfinished looking Dracs side finish in 2023? 

There are a couple of polls we have running so please vote using one of the choices below...

Twitter poll - Click here 

RLFans survey - Click here

Transfer comings and goings...

IN – Tom Johnstone (Wakefield), Manu Ma’u (Hull FC), Siosiua Taukeiaho, Adam Keighran (Sydney Roosters), Romain Navarette (Toulouse)

OUT – Sam Kasiano, Gil Dudson, Josh Drinkwater (Warrington), Joe Chan (Melbourne), Dean Whare, Benjamin Jullien (both Baroudeurs de Pia), Mathieu Cozza (Featherstone), Samisoni Langi, Corentin La Cam, Romain Franco, Dylan Napa (all released)

NB Romain Franco has rejoined for the domestic league competition

Pre-season injuries mount

According to the clubs official website there are three key players currently injured. 

Mike McMeeken barely played last season and has already had surgery this. He is joined in the rehab room by Sam Tomkins who underwent a post World Cup operation. 

To compound the nightmare, Fouad Yaha dislocated his shoulder in training this morning and will be assessed by a specialist soon. 

Bring your boots Dracs fans! you might get a game. 

Keighran is in at the Dracs

 

Click here for more

JD departs

 Click here

A Dracs great in both of his spells at the club. 

Gutted to see him go. 

Warrington hoover up our former players

 Great pun on their shirt sponsor eh? 

Sam Kasiano, Gil Dudson and (potentially) Josh Drinkwater are looking to trade the south of France for the north west of England this off season. 

The trio will be looking to help Warrington improve on their next to bottom league finish in 2022. 

At the moment our in door has creaked open with Tom Johnstone (Wakefield), Manu M'au (Hull FC) and Siosiua Taukeiaho (Sydney Roosters). 

With other players linked to the club at the moment this post will get updated ahead of the campaign. 

Sam Tomkins on the Rugby Pod

 Click here to listen. 

Ex-coach joins St Helens

Laurent Frayssinous back in the Superleague as assistant to Paul Wellens.

Hooray !!!!! and bon chance.

Tierney hangs up his boots

Challenge Cup final try scorer Lewis Tierney has retired from the game. 

Tierney left the Dragons last winter for Leigh but injury has ended his pro career. 

We wish him all the best for the future and will never forget the contribution he made to the club. 

Napa and May follow Pearce to Perpi

Catalans have been further boosted by the signings of Dylan Napa and Tyrone May from the NRL. 

Along with Mitchell Pearce this is a real show of intent for the Dragons with transfers that will leave the internet moaners looking into the salary cap rules. 

We would like to welcome both to Stade Gilbert Brutus and wish them all the best in their time with the club. 

Tomkins isn't joining Leigh

 Joel Tomkins has announced his immediate retirement from the game despite him being signed on for Leigh next season. 

Click here for more. 

Catalans Dragons 10-12 St Helens

Dragons Catalans (4) 10

T : Mike McMeeken

G : James Maloney 3

St Helens (6) 12

T : Kevin Naiqama 2

G : Lachlan Coote 2

Dragons : S. Tomkins, Davies, Whare, Landi, Yaha, Maloney, Drinkwater, Dudson, McIlorum, Bousquet, Whitley, McMeeken, Garcia

Subs : Mourgue, Goudemand, J. Tomkins, Kasiano

St Helens : Coote, Makinson, Naiqama, Percival, Grace, Lomax, Dodd, Walmsley, Roby, Lees, Mata’utia, Batchelor, Knowles

Subs : McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Amor, Paasi, Welsby

Stadium : Old Trafford

Referee : Liam Moore

Attendance :45 177

Catalans Dragons came up narrowly short in their quest to win the Superleague Grand Final.

After surviving early pressure from the defending champions, St Helens, the Catalan side struck first through a Jimmy Maloney penalty. 

Some juggling in goal from Kevin Naiqama saw us behind at the break before Mike McMeeken gave us a narrow lead which we defending until late on when the Fijian crossed again. He was injured in the act of scoring. 

There was a couple of controversial moments. Fouad Yaha looked like scoring before being taken out by Tommy Makinson and in our last attack Sam Tomkins was penalised for an incorrect play the ball. Harsh when you consider he was in a head lock at the time. 

It could and maybe should have been a 2 point chance for Maloney and who knows where extra time would have taken us?

When the dust settles we will review the season in detail. 

But for now we have the terrible prospect of LMS gloating in his column! You don't like us Louie and we don't like you ! 

 

Dragons stars make Super league dream team

Super League Dream Team: Sam Tomkins (Catalans Dragons), Tom Davies (Catalans Dragons), Jack Welsby (St Helens), Mark Percival (St Helens), Ken Sio (Salford Red Devils), Jonny Lomax (St Helens), James Maloney (Catalans Dragons), Alex Walmsley (St Helens), Kruise Leeming (Leeds Rhinos), Sam Kasiano (Catalans Dragons), Liam Farrell (Wigan Warriors), Kane Linnett (Hull KR), Morgan Knowles (St Helens).

Many congratualtions to our players who made the 2021 Dream Team. 

2021 / 2022 St Esteve squad

Coaches

Cyril Gossard 

Vincent Duport

Players

Robin Brochon

Louis Carré

Loan Castano

Tiaki Chan

Enzo Colchero

Damien Dauset

Enzo Delbe

Valentin Fernandez

Thibault Franck

Jayson Goffin

Maxime Jobe

Romain Khedimi

Léo Laurent

Léo Llong

Erwan Mathe

Paul Marty

Mike Parenti

Cédrix Payrou

Corentin Rey

Lucas Ribas

Hugo Salabio

Adrien Saliès

Bastien Scimone

Ugo Tison

Tanguy Zénon

Notes

Young U19 players Loan Castano, Enzo Colchero, Damien Dauset, Enzo Delbe, Valentin Fernandez, Erwan Mathe, Adrien Saliès and Tanguy Zenon are joining the first team squad.

Thibault Franck (St Gaudens), Mike Parenti (Palau), Corentin Rey (Avignon) and Paul Marty (Narbonne, Rugby Union) are also joining the reserve team.

More new deals, this time for the French spine

Benjamin Julien

Alrix Da Costa

Paul Seguier 

Arthur Romano

All of the above have signed new deals of varying length with the club. 

We would like to thank them for their continued service with Catalans Dragons. 

Joel Tomkins to leave

Joel Tomkins is leaving the club at the end of the season. 

With one or two disciplinary issues on his CV (and not just at our club), it seems a good idea to move him on. 

We would like to put on record our thanks to Joel for his efforts at the club and wish him well. 

Maloney to retire from professional Rugby League

Former NSW State of Origin player James Maloney will quit the gamee at the end of the season when his contract with Catalans Dragons expires. 

We would like to place on record our thanks to Maloney for his incredible efforts in the sang-et-or and hope retirement treats him well. 

Kasiano gets another year

With the Dragons going along nicely at the top of Superleague this season, there has already been a raft of new contracts announced. 

The like of Josh Drinkwater and Tom Davies are already signed up for additional seasons in Perpignan along with a number of the local talent starting to emerge and push for places in the team. 

In recent weeks it had been rumoured that, due to the large amount of salary cap space he was commanding, Sam Kasiano would be moving to an English based club. 

Warrington (of course) and Leeds (of course) had been mentioned on socials as possible destinations for the player affectionately known as Big Sam. But the club has today announced he will be with us until the end of 2022 putting all that speculation to bed. 

Unless of course one of those clubs wants to stump up an absolute fortune, which is doubtful in the times of Covid. 

Lots of praise for Sam Tomkins as Dragons run continues

 Love Rugby League has a couple of articles talking about Sam Tomkins at the moment. 

One includes a podcast link with George Riley and is well worth a listen. 

So here are the links in case you missed them. 

McNamara says Sam is natural leader > Click here

Tomkins to settle in France post retirement > Click here

We love Samkins and are really enjoying his contribution to the team at the moment.