ESL ESL - Catalan - News, Signings and Departures
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Catalans Dragons are considering legal action after dual-code international Israel Folau agreed to join an amateur rugby league team in Australia.
| Betfred Super League |
|---|
| Catalans (8) 20 |
| Tries: Maloney, Whare, Jullien Goals: Maloney 4 |
| St Helens (2) 16 |
| Tries: Percival 2, Grace Goals: Coote 2 |
Catalans Dragons handed champions St Helens their first Super League defeat of the season in a bruising game in Perpignan.
James Maloney scored all the points to put the Dragons 8-0 ahead before Lachlan Coote replied with a penalty.
Dean Whare punished a Saints error after the break, while Mark Percival followed suit from a Dragons mistake.
Benjamin Jullien and Percival crossed, before Regan Grace set up a nervy finish when he dived in.
The loss means last year's regular season leaders Wigan are now the only side to maintain an unbeaten record in the 2021 Super League table.
| Betfred Super League |
|---|
| Catalans (16) 48 |
| Tries: McIlorum, S Tomkins 2, Mourgue, Drinkwater 2, McMeeken, Laguerre Goals: Maloney 8 |
| Wigan (0) 0 |
Wigan Warriors had Zak Hardaker sent off as their 100% Super League start was ended by Catalans Dragons.
First-half tries from former Wigan players Michael McIlorum and Sam Tomkins were reward for their dominance of territory, possession and the ruck.
Arthur Mourgue was a livewire and capped his performance with a try to establish control after the break.
Josh Drinkwater added two tries, Mike McMeeken and Mathieu Laguerre also scoring, as Catalans ran riot.
Hardaker was sent off late on for use of the head, after leaning into England team-mate Sam Tomkins with the game well gone.
| Betfred Super League |
|---|
| Leigh (18) 30 |
| Tries: Reynolds, Elliot, Gee, Hellewell, Brierley Goals: Brierley 5 |
| Catalans (12) 36 |
| Tries: Drinkwater, Maloney, Langi, Davies, Jullien, Mourgue Goals: Maloney 6 |
Catalans Dragons moved top of Super League after coming from behind to beat winless Leigh Centurions.
Ben Reynolds ran in first for Leigh but Josh Drinkwater levelled the scores.
Leigh intercepted again to lead, this time through Brendan Elliot and went further ahead thanks to Matty Gee.
James Maloney, Samisoni Langi, Tom Davies, Benjamin Jullien and Arthur Mourgue inspired the fightback but Ben Hellewell and Ryan Brierley set up a tense finale as the hosts fought back.
Victory for Catalans means they overtake Wigan, who drop to third, and leaders at the start of the round, St Helens.
Saints and Wigan both had their matches on Friday called off because of positive Covid-19 cases in their opponents' camps and, despite a scare from Leigh, Catalans knew that victory would be good enough to go top.
England international Tom Davies has signed a new three-year contract at Super League side Catalans Dragons.
The 24-year-old has been a revelation since joining from Wigan for 2020, scoring 20 tries in 21 games and also crossed on last month's England debut.
Davies won the Super League Grand Final with Wigan in 2018, having scored 32 in 63 games despite a long-term ankle injury limiting his appearances.
The 24-year-old has been a revelation since joining from Wigan for 2020, scoring 20 tries in 21 games and also crossed on last month's England debut.
Davies won the Super League Grand Final with Wigan in 2018, having scored 32 in 63 games despite a long-term ankle injury limiting his appearances.
| Betfred Super League |
|---|
| Hull KR (4) 16 |
| Tries: Quinlan 2 Goals: Abdull 4 |
| Catalans (8) 23 |
| Tries: Franco, Langi, S Tomkins Goals: Maloney 5 Drop Goal: Maloney |
Super League leaders Catalans Dragons were taken the distance by Hull KR at Craven Park as they extended their club-record winning streak to 12 games.
Tries either side of the break by debutant Romain Franco and Samisoni Langi gave Catalans a cushion before Sam Tomkins' solo effort for the third.
The second of two converted second-half tries from home full-back Adam Quinlan kept Rovers interested.
But, by then, James Maloney's late drop goal had taken Catalans out of reach.
Maloney also kicked three conversions and a penalty for an individual 11-point haul, while Jordan Abdull landed four goals for the hosts.
Catalans Dragons loose forward Mickael Goudemand has signed a new contract.
The 25-year-old French international is now tied to the current Super League leaders until the end of the 2023 season after penning a two-year deal.
Goudemand has started the last two games on the bench but he has played a big part in the run of 11 straight wins that have carried Catalans to the top.
The 25-year-old French international is now tied to the current Super League leaders until the end of the 2023 season after penning a two-year deal.
Goudemand has started the last two games on the bench but he has played a big part in the run of 11 straight wins that have carried Catalans to the top.
Former Australia international James Maloney will retire at the end of this season with Catalans Dragons and return to his native country.
The 35-year-old has been an influential figure for the Dragons, helping them to the 2020 play-offs and to the top of Super League currently in 2021.
Maloney has won the 2017 World Cup, two National Rugby League (NRL) titles and two State of Origin series.
The 35-year-old has been an influential figure for the Dragons, helping them to the 2020 play-offs and to the top of Super League currently in 2021.
Maloney has won the 2017 World Cup, two National Rugby League (NRL) titles and two State of Origin series.
| Betfred Super League |
|---|
| Catalans (18) 18 |
| Tries: Whitley 2, Laguerre Goals: Maloney 3 |
| Huddersfield (12) 30 |
| Tries: Jones, Senior, Ashall-Bott, Cogger, English Goals: Russell 5 |
Huddersfield Giants spoiled Catalans Dragons' triumphant League Leaders' Shield homecoming with a comeback victory at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.
It looked a tall order when the Dragons, who clinched top spot last week, raced into an 18-0 lead with Matt Whitley and Mathieu Laguerre tries.
Josh Jones and Louis Senior reduced the arrears before the break.
Olly Ashall-Bott, Jack Cogger and Matty English then crossed to hand Giants a shock win in the south of France.
| Betfred Super League semi-final: Catalans Dragons v Hull KR |
|---|
| Venue: Stade Gilbert Brutus Date: Thursday, 30 September Kick-off: 19:45 BST Coverage: Radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Radio Humberside, BBC Sport website and app, live text commentary on BBC Sport website and app |
At the end of the 2020 season Hull KR were rock-bottom of the Super League table. They had managed just three league wins in a Covid-affected campaign.
In any other year they would have been relegated.
Twelve months on and they could be on the verge of history. They are just one game away from a first Grand Final after a dramatic reversal of fortunes.
The Robins fly to Perpignan for a semi-final with League Leaders' Shield winners Catalans Dragons on Thursday.
The odds are stacked against them. But, after finishing sixth and qualifying for the knockout stage of the season for the first time since 2013, they also were before last week's play-off against Warrington.
| Betfred Super League play-off semi-final |
|---|
| Catalans (12) 28 |
| Tries: Garcia, Drinkwater, Mourgue, Yaha, Chan Goals: Maloney 4 |
| Hull KR (4) 10 |
| Tries: Kenny-Dowall, Hall Goal: Abdull |
Catalans Dragons wrote themselves into Super League history by beating Hull KR in the play-off semi-finals to book their first Grand Final appearance.
They built a first-half lead through Ben Garcia and Josh Drinkwater tries, before Shaun Kenny-Dowall got a late Rovers score before the hooter.
After the break, Catalans pulled away from the Robins with Arthur Mourgue, Fouad Yaha and Joe Chan tries.
Ryan Hall's late effort was merely consolation for the spirited visitors.
Catalans Dragons' French international back Arthur Mourgue has signed a new improved contract with the 2021 Super League leaders' shield winners.
St Etienne-born Mourgue was already on a deal with the Dragons which runs until the end of the 2023 season.
But he has now signed a new contract on improved terms for the next two years.
Mourgue, who plays primarily at half-back, had a real breakthrough season in 2021, scoring six tries in 23 games to help Catalans finish top.
He was on the bench at Old Trafford for the Grand Final defeat by St Helens.
St Etienne-born Mourgue was already on a deal with the Dragons which runs until the end of the 2023 season.
But he has now signed a new contract on improved terms for the next two years.
Mourgue, who plays primarily at half-back, had a real breakthrough season in 2021, scoring six tries in 23 games to help Catalans finish top.
He was on the bench at Old Trafford for the Grand Final defeat by St Helens.
Catalans Dragons have signed half-back Mitchell Pearce from NRL side Newcastle Knights on a two-year deal with the option of a further year.
The 32-year-old made his NRL debut with the Sydney Roosters in 2007 and won the 2013 NRL Premiership with the club after beating Manly in the Grand Final.
Son of Balmain legend Wayne, Pearce has played more than 300 games in the NRL.
The 32-year-old made his NRL debut with the Sydney Roosters in 2007 and won the 2013 NRL Premiership with the club after beating Manly in the Grand Final.
Son of Balmain legend Wayne, Pearce has played more than 300 games in the NRL.
Catalans Dragons have appointed former prop Sam Moa to Steve McNamara's staff as an assistant coach.
Moa, who played for New Zealand and Tonga internationally in addition to Sydney Roosters, Hull and the Dragons, finished his career at Lezignan.
The 35-year-old joins former team-mate Thomas Bosc on the staff at a club where he won the Challenge Cup in 2018.
Moa, who played for New Zealand and Tonga internationally in addition to Sydney Roosters, Hull and the Dragons, finished his career at Lezignan.
The 35-year-old joins former team-mate Thomas Bosc on the staff at a club where he won the Challenge Cup in 2018.
Catalans Dragons have signed Queensland State of Origin prop Dylan Napa on a two-year deal after his contract ended at Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
The 29-year-old not only played Origin for the Maroons, but also won a National Rugby League premiership with the Sydney Roosters in 2018.
Napa has played 178 NRL games - 18 of which were for the Bulldogs during the 2021 season - and scored six tries.
The 29-year-old not only played Origin for the Maroons, but also won a National Rugby League premiership with the Sydney Roosters in 2018.
Napa has played 178 NRL games - 18 of which were for the Bulldogs during the 2021 season - and scored six tries.
| Betfred Super League 2022 |
|---|
| Kick-off date: Thursday, 10 February Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sports Extra and local radio; highlights on BBC One, BBC Two and iPlayer from the Super League Show and news and reports from BBC Sport |
Catalans Dragons have agreed a deal with French broadcaster Bein Sport to show Super League home matches, as well as the play-offs and Grand Final.
It follows the Dragons' 2021 success, which saw them reach the Old Trafford Grand Final for the first time and finish top of the regular season table.
The deal includes nine of the 13 Catalans home games, as well as selected games on the road in England.
Former England head coach Steve McNamara has signed a new two-year contract with 2021 Super League Grand Finalists Catalans Dragons.
The 50-year-old guided the Dragons to their first Old Trafford visit last season, having already won the 2018 Challenge Cup with the Dracs.
His side finished top to take the League Leaders' Shield in 2021, earning him the Coach of the Year award.
The 50-year-old guided the Dragons to their first Old Trafford visit last season, having already won the 2018 Challenge Cup with the Dracs.
His side finished top to take the League Leaders' Shield in 2021, earning him the Coach of the Year award.