There was a move a few seasons ago to bring the French competition schedule more into line with the UK by pushing the competion into June (from the usual May finish). It was the season before Les Cats entered Super League. The notion was to gradually move the comp toward a Dec/Jan start...and an August finish. Having been in France at the time, I can see why they junked the idea and moved back to a May finish. It's just too hot in the South of France in late June/July to play park footy. One game I was at between Toulouse and UTC in Toulouse was played in 38 degree heat. From memory kick-off was at 8pm. Granted it was a particularly hot night, but still. On top of that, like a number of European countries (particularly in the Mediterannean), things grind to a halt in August as people go on holidays. It's alright for a professional club like Les Catalans to battle on throughout those summer months, but the semi-professional clubs just don't want to switch...and I for one can understand why.
