French News

[Coastbloke]

Maloney to Catalan. Just what the French game needs..

Unless.......

They can somehow use him to mentor young French halves. Not just Catalan. Puck his brain while he is there for his 3 years..

 

[Foreign Legion]

Two Aussie recruits for Limoux

Limoux have announced their first two new recruits for next season. Full-back Zachary Santo, 26, has played a handful of NRL games for North Queensland and Canberra, while Ed Murphy joins from the Canterbury Cup, where he played for North Sydney Bears.

Travellers disrupt Warrington plans

Warrington will be provided with alternative arrangements for preparing for their game against Catalans, after travellers occupied the home ground of Elite 1 club Palau. It’s the second time this summer it’s happened, the first time affected Wakefield’s trip to France. Although the mayor had made additional arrangements to prevent the occupation, the travellers had no trouble settling down. Warrington will be relocated ahead of their game on Saturday.

Spanish international leaves Hunslet

Carcassonne have signed Spain international half-back Romain Pallares, who has been playing for Hunslet in League 1. The French Cup winners have also signed Ludovic Artiga (from VARL), Clement Bienes (Albi) and Thomas Malfaz (Beziers RU)

Albi announce seven signatures

Albi have signed two Queensland Cup players from Down Under, in half-back Jack Cook and back-rower Kirk Murphy from Tweed Seagulls. They have promoted Julien Cance and Thibault Cousinie from their reserve team, as well as Mathieu Grabulos from Limoux’s Under 19s. They have also signed Nicolas Bianchini and Theo Lardot from Toulouse and Palau respectively.

Movements at Pia


Pia have appointed Thomas Valette as coach, with Franck Rovira becoming the Elite 2 club’s new sports director. They have also announced their first signings – Brice Pena (Limoux), Joao Paulo de Oliveira (Palau), Ilyes El Fizazi (Baho), the Cabestany brothers (Le Barcares) and Franck Florenza.

Under 19s tour

France Under 19s, who won the 2018 European Championships in Serbia, will go on tour to New Zealand, playing games against South Island, Toa Samoa, NZ Residents and Auckland U20s. A 35-man squad has been named, though only 25 will part of the trip Down Under.

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/pos...x-and-albi-bring-in-recruits-from-down-under/

 

[Foreign Legion]

Wigan ace to return home

Wigan Warriors full-back Morgan Escare will return to his native homeland of France at the end of 2019.

The France international has found chances hard to come by in his time at Wigan, playing just six games this year. A number of French clubs are interested in the 27-year-old, including Catalans, Lezignan and Limoux. Escare has played 48 games for the Warriors during his three years at the club, with 24 of those coming from the bench.

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/off-the-record-rugby-league-rumours-and-gossip-174/

 

[Walter sobchak]

Wigan ace to return home

Wigan Warriors full-back Morgan Escare will return to his native homeland of France at the end of 2019.

The France international has found chances hard to come by in his time at Wigan, playing just six games this year. A number of French clubs are interested in the 27-year-old, including Catalans, Lezignan and Limoux. Escare has played 48 games for the Warriors during his three years at the club, with 24 of those coming from the bench.

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/off-the-record-rugby-league-rumours-and-gossip-174/

How disappointing would it be to see escare end up at an elite 1 club. Surely he’ll end up at the dragons?

 

[Storm13]

How disappointing would it be to see escare end up at an elite 1 club. Surely he’ll end up at the dragons?

He got screwed when they signed Hardaker after he signed for one more year. Hopefully he goes to Toulouse as the Dragons won't play him.

 

[Walter sobchak]

He got screwed when they signed Hardaker after he signed for one more year. Hopefully he goes to Toulouse as the Dragons won't play him.

Would be an excellent fit all round.

 

[Foreign Legion]

It will soon be two years since Treize Mondial exists and the structure continues to develop to offer its readers an ever richer content.

A few figures are needed, 9500 articles published since the creation is not far from twenty a day, the results of 8 championships in France and around the world in real time or the hours of programs listened to on our Youtube channel.

In order to continue its development, Treize Mondial is looking for partners! Are you an entrepreneur, an independent, a brand, an association or a sporting event? Contact us, whatever your budget, we will have an adapted offer to offer you visibility.

Only we go fast, together we go far!

https://treizemondial.fr/treize-mondial-cherche-des-partenaires/

 

[Foreign Legion]

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/pos...-limoux-and-ex-hull-kr-half-joins-st-gaudens/

Catalans live coverage pulled

beIN Sport will stop their live coverage of Catalans from next season after being asked by Super League chief Robert Elstone for more money. It costs around €20,000 to produce a game in Perpignan, and viewing figures in France aren’t making it worthwhile. With Sky using the beIN feed to show the games, it could mean a significant reduction in coverage next season unless a replacement broadcaster is found.


Lasvenes joins the London Skolars


New Villeneuve signing, Thomas Lasvenes, will finish the current season in England. The French fullback has committed until the end of the League One campaign with London Skolars.

Two more recruits in Albi

Albi have signed French Cup winning half-back Luc Franco from Carcassonne, and he will be joined by Nicolas Bertolas, who is currently playing in League One for West Wales Raiders.


Sophien Bitigri stays in Baho


French Elite 2 championship and Georges Ailleres Cup winners Baho have fought off competition to retain Sophien Bitigri for next season. Several Elite 1 clubs enquired, but coach Didier Meynard has convinced him to stay with Baho for another year.

Thibault Franck go to St Gaudens

Former Hull KR and Sheffield half-back Thibault Franck is to join St Gaudens, alongside fellow new recruits Yoan Reynaud (Toulouse) and Sylvain Masuaute (Pia). Franck, a former France academy international, played for Palau last season.

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Third Australian joins Limoux


Limoux have signed Shaun Nona, the Queensland Cup’s best player in 2014. He becomes the third Australian to join the Grizzlies, following Zach Santo and Ed Murphy. Versatile Fabien Flovie has also joined Limoux, from Palau.

President leaves Toulon

The president of Elite 2 championship club Toulon, Laurent Gavarri, has left the club. He helped to re-establish the club, which aims to return to the highest level in France in the coming years. A replacement has yet to be announced.

 

[Stallion]

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/pos...-limoux-and-ex-hull-kr-half-joins-st-gaudens/

Catalans live coverage pulled

beIN Sport will stop their live coverage of Catalans from next season after being asked by Super League chief Robert Elstone for more money. It costs around €20,000 to produce a game in Perpignan, and viewing figures in France aren’t making it worthwhile. With Sky using the beIN feed to show the games, it could mean a significant reduction in coverage next season unless a replacement broadcaster is found.


Lasvenes joins the London Skolars


New Villeneuve signing, Thomas Lasvenes, will finish the current season in England. The French fullback has committed until the end of the League One campaign with London Skolars.

Two more recruits in Albi

Albi have signed French Cup winning half-back Luc Franco from Carcassonne, and he will be joined by Nicolas Bertolas, who is currently playing in League One for West Wales Raiders.


Sophien Bitigri stays in Baho


French Elite 2 championship and Georges Ailleres Cup winners Baho have fought off competition to retain Sophien Bitigri for next season. Several Elite 1 clubs enquired, but coach Didier Meynard has convinced him to stay with Baho for another year.

Thibault Franck go to St Gaudens

Former Hull KR and Sheffield half-back Thibault Franck is to join St Gaudens, alongside fellow new recruits Yoan Reynaud (Toulouse) and Sylvain Masuaute (Pia). Franck, a former France academy international, played for Palau last season.

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Third Australian joins Limoux


Limoux have signed Shaun Nona, the Queensland Cup’s best player in 2014. He becomes the third Australian to join the Grizzlies, following Zach Santo and Ed Murphy. Versatile Fabien Flovie has also joined Limoux, from Palau.

President leaves Toulon

The president of Elite 2 championship club Toulon, Laurent Gavarri, has left the club. He helped to re-establish the club, which aims to return to the highest level in France in the coming years. A replacement has yet to be announced.

Is Elstone progressive or regressive ? Certainly looks the later.

 

[Jim from Oz]

"Catalans live coverage pulled

beIN Sport will stop their live coverage of Catalans from next season after being asked by Super League chief Robert Elstone for more money. It costs around €20,000 to produce a game in Perpignan, and viewing figures in France aren’t making it worthwhile. With Sky using the beIN feed to show the games, it could mean a significant reduction in coverage next season unless a replacement broadcaster is found."

that is an utterly DISASTROUS development

 

[Foreign Legion]

"Catalans live coverage pulled

beIN Sport will stop their live coverage of Catalans from next season after being asked by Super League chief Robert Elstone for more money. It costs around €20,000 to produce a game in Perpignan, and viewing figures in France aren’t making it worthwhile. With Sky using the beIN feed to show the games, it could mean a significant reduction in coverage next season unless a replacement broadcaster is found."

that is an utterly DISASTROUS development

My thoughts exactly

 

[adamkungl]

Asking for more money for a product that isn't providing more value. Checkmate France!

 

[Stallion]

Asking for more money for a product that isn't providing more value. Checkmate France!

Seems very regressive!

 

[The Daddy3]

If Elstone doesn't have a replacement deal up his sleeve he's gonna look fu****g stupid

 

[Jim from Oz]

If Elstone doesn't have a replacement deal up his sleeve he's gonna look fu****g stupid

That is an understatement ! If RE had had some company coming to him/Super League and offering more euros for the Catalans TV deal, then it would fine for him to ask BeinSports for more.

But if there is no other company, and if he's therefore done this to BeinSports, and BeinSports have told him and Super League where to go, then that is unbelievable crap on his part.

But what else to expect from UK RL administration?

Let's piss of BeinSports and, in the process, work to utterly destroy what little there is left of French RL!

Ludicrous and disastrous.

I wonder what Bernard Guasch is thinking of all this???

 

[adamkungl]

I like to be optimistic about the future.
I usually think Super League can continue as it is now, taking small steps to becoming an international city league. London, Catalans, Toulouse, Toronto, maybe only a few years away from all featuring in the top grade together. P&R makes it take a little longer but its worth it to keep traditional fans engaged and avoid a "war", while still bringing in new fans and new reach.

But.
When the RFL and SL both sabotage their international aspirations so regularly, I start to think that we're taking more steps backwards than forwards, and the sport will fade to irrelevancy before it manages to take its opportunities.

If incompetence, laziness and nepotism from England continues to limit Catalans and Toronto's progress and make the sport less attractive for other potential investors, something drastic needs to change.
If the RFL and SL can't adequately support their international teams, those teams (not even RFL members) should tell them to get stuffed.

Start a new comp with 3 French and 3 North American clubs.
Invite London and the top 5 northern clubs for 6 English teams.
If they want to stay in Elstone's tinpot comp, launch new clubs in big city locations.

 

[Storm13]

After listening to the latest two episodes of Progressive Rugby League podcast, I'm on the fence if it would be better if Toulouse and Catalans leave the English game and try to elevate the local competition.

 

[jim_57]

I like to be optimistic about the future.
I usually think Super League can continue as it is now, taking small steps to becoming an international city league. London, Catalans, Toulouse, Toronto, maybe only a few years away from all featuring in the top grade together. P&R makes it take a little longer but its worth it to keep traditional fans engaged and avoid a "war", while still bringing in new fans and new reach.

But.
When the RFL and SL both sabotage their international aspirations so regularly, I start to think that we're taking more steps backwards than forwards, and the sport will fade to irrelevancy before it manages to take its opportunities.

If incompetence, laziness and nepotism from England continues to limit Catalans and Toronto's progress and make the sport less attractive for other potential investors, something drastic needs to change.
If the RFL and SL can't adequately support their international teams, those teams (not even RFL members) should tell them to get stuffed.

Start a new comp with 3 French and 3 North American clubs.
Invite London and the top 5 northern clubs for 6 English teams.
If they want to stay in Elstone's tinpot comp, launch new clubs in big city locations.

Yehp, it's hard to be hopeful anymore in regards to the game over there. They seem hell bent on protecting themselves from the 'foreign' clubs instead of trying to embrace them and using them to grow the sport.

The fact Catalans have been in Super League for 14 years straight, now one of the biggest clubs yet they are still a 'guest' tells you all you need to know. Yet Featherstone, Halifax, Leigh or Batley could win promotion any year and be given full voting rights despite some of them never having been in Super League in last 14 years.

Self interest is winning the day again, who'd have thought?

 

[jim_57]

After listening to the latest two episodes of Progressive Rugby League podcast, I'm on the fence if it would be better if Toulouse and Catalans leave the English game and try to elevate the local competition.

IF they could pull it off it would be great, it could just as easily see them both drop back to Elite 1 level in terms of crowds and standard which would pretty much be the end of the game in France at professional level.

 

[Walter sobchak]

IF they could pull it off it would be great, it could just as easily see them both drop back to Elite 1 level in terms of crowds and standard which would pretty much be the end of the game in France at professional level.

The Catalan dragons and Olympic Toulouse are to elite 1 what the Auckland/NZ warriors would have been to the lion red cup.

It’s the competitions of super league and NRL that is the draw for fans, tv and sponsors.