Catalan Media
COACH Sylvain Houles feels his players are Toulouse Olym-peaking at just the right time following the club’s “worst-ever” start to a season and a rollercoaster championship campaign (writes STEVE BRADY).
The Twin Peaks for Toulouse in 2024 begin on Sunday against Bradford Bulls in the championship semi-final with a place in the Grand Final for the winners against either Wakefield Trinity or York Knights.
The 43-year-old Head Coach has already guided his side to two Grand Finals in 2021+23, one of which led to promotion to Super League only for it all to end in relegation after a season highly-impacted by the Covid crisis.
No global health disaster this year thankfully but the Olympians had a disastrous opening few weeks of the championship although the “learning experience” from a string of early defeats has been invaluable according to the coach,
Houles said the club’s worst-ever start to a season, which was immediately followed by a record-winning run, have put the French club on the best possible momentum track for this weekend’s knockout stages.
He told Catalan Media, “We are where we wanted to be, we finished in the top two which gives us a home semi and it gives us a great chance of making the Grand Final.
“We had a terrible start to the season where we lost four from six, then went on a 12-match unbeaten run. It’s been a tough ride and it’s up to us now to finish the job.
“We’ve achieved the expectations of the club this season so far, it’s up to us now to finish the job.
“We’ve been here before of course but it’s been a little bit different this season.
“We started this campaign quite slow, losing four in the first six games, it had never happened before to us.
“Because of the staggered start this year with cup games, other teams had played four to six more games than us and we were missing that bit of connection and game-time for new players and a new spine.
“It was interesting to manage that for the first time, we had to make sure we didn’t panic and we remained focused on where we are going.
“We had to trust the process and keep working and keeping the players’ trust.
“All of a sudden we went into an unbeaten run of 12 games which was great then we lost three in a row, it was a real rollercoaster.
“If it wasn’t for those three defeats we could have secured a top-two slot much earlier but we were in a more challenging situation than expected.
“But it made sure we had to roll up our sleeves and work even harder. We went into that game away against Widnes where not many people were expecting us to win.
“We’d travelled with a team full of injuries and I didn’t even select our full-back Olly Ashall-Bott purely because he’s had two really bad knee injuries on that pitch.
“I didn’t want to put him through that again so we were in a tough position against the Vikings.
“We dug so deep and pulled off probably the win of the season for us under those circumstances.
“All of that is great experience for this playing group. When you are tested and challenged you learn more about yourself and we proved we can tough it out when necessary.
TOULOUSE'S TWIN PEAKS
“We’re going into the semis well-prepared and not over-cooked. It’s a game of footy and we need to enjoy it, if they do that and play to their potential I am sure we will get the result...” SYLVAIN HOULES speaks exclusively to Catalan Media
“Then of course we beat Wakefield by 30 points at home and we took so much confidence from that performance. Two victories in two different ways.
“We’ve had seasons before this where we’ve been reasonably comfortable throughout, playing good rugby but it’s during hard times like we’ve seen this year you discover the true leaders of your team.
“Players react in different ways to the same situation so it was interesting for me to learn from the experience.
“Obviously, at the time you’d hope for less challenging times but it feels good when you come out on top at the end of it.”
Houles’ biggest surprise of the season is getting through such a demanding campaign while using relatively few resources.
He revealed to Catalan Media: “It hasn’t been a smooth road, we’ve had hard times and injuries this season. It’s incredible to think that this year we’ve only used 28 players, last year it was 36.
“And it’s the first time in my career as a coach that we went 16 games in a row week after week without a break. Last weekend was our first without a game for a long time.
“With such a small squad our performance and medical staff have done an incredible job this year. With the kind of season we’ve had, to only use 28 players is a massive credit to them.
“They have worked so hard, especially on the muscular injuries, to ensure the players receive the best care and the team can keep functioning.
“Now we’re at the business end and the players are all putting their hand up for selection but also those who don’t make the team are playing their part, supporting their team-mates and the staff.
“It raises the standards and that’s great for me as a coach. I’m happy with the mix and the connection of the players. The effort is there with all of the little details that we speak about.
“We’re going into the semis well-prepared and not over-cooked. It’s a game of footy and we need to enjoy it, if they do that and play to their potential I am sure we will get the result.”
Houles promises an explosive atmosphere at Stade Ernest Wallon against Bradford Bulls in the play-off semi-final eliminator on Sunday, adding, “From very early on we wanted to secure one of the top spots, we knew that the club would then put things in place to create a special event for our home semi-final.
“To get a good crowd is so important for the team and we saw a taste of that in the last game against Batley (attendance: 3,361). It was a bit of an appetiser for what is to come, the public turned out for what was essentially a game with not much to play for.
“This is different, the communication and the vibes around this club are very good, it’s exciting, we’ve prepared well during the week off, we gave the players a small break and now we’re all systems go.
“It’s a semi-final, these are the games we play for, we love this level of footy. You’ve played 26 difficult rounds, you deserve to be here.
“We’ve been in this situation before, these are milestone games and we need to rise to the occasion.
“We need to love it, enjoy and embrace it then do our very best to win it.
“Now it’s all about getting the details right, all of the technical footy stuff and bring it to our game.”
Toulouse's Twin Peak Trek starts Sunday afternoon at Stade Ernest Wallon.
CATALANS DRAGONS have wrapped up for 2024, but already plans are being made for next season with an influx of new players, coaching staff and a huge financial challenge which will have a “significant impact” on the club (writes STEVE BRADY).
Players and coaching staff have been released before a return on November 4th to begin preparations for 2025, however, club chiefs are still busy working on finances after RFL chiefs called for a major change in the Dragons’ relationship with UK-based clubs.
Catalans’ new Chief Executive Sebastien Munoz told local media, “For the first time in the club’s history, next year we will have to pay all of the expenses incurred by visiting Super League teams and RFL officials.
“That means travel costs, flights, hotels, meals, transfers, everything involved in the trip to Perpignan.
"It is a significant cost which we are still calculating fully. We are already beyond 400,000 euros and we are still in the process of refining it.
“This is a significant cost and we will have to find ways to meet this additional expense.”
Since joining the UK-based competition in 2006 the Dragons haven’t contributed to visiting teams’ expenses although Toulouse Olympique have been paying since they joined in 2009.
Earlier this year, RL Commercial Managing Director Rhodri Jones announced on the League Express Podcast that he was bringing Catalans in line with the Olympians.
He said in March, “There is a realisation that there is an amount of money leaving the British game to go to France and we all know what that amount is, but what do we get back in return for it?
Catalans count the cost
“For the first time in the club’s history we will have to pay all expenses of visiting Super League teams and RFL officials... travel costs, flights, hotels, meals, transfers. It is a significant cost which we are still calculating and we are already beyond 400,000 euros..."
“A number of stakeholders will say the benefit is all going to France in terms of distribution and a TV deal but what is coming back?
“That is one of the questions we need to answer and work through to ensure the French club participation in Super League is done on a level-playing field.
“The travel will change in terms of going out to Catalans and who pays for the travel in 2025. The Dragons will pick up that bill now. In effect, we are bringing Catalans in line with what Toulouse are already doing.”
When the decision was announced, Catalans’ owner Bernard Guasch responded by admitting the club “had to put something in the pot” because of a failure to realise any funds from television rights in France.
He added, “I understand this situation. We have to find a solution because it will handicap us financially, as it handicapped Toulouse during their year in the Super League.”
Any financial hit doesn’t seem to have affected coach Steve McNamara’s plans for 2025 so far with a string of NRL and Super League stars signed on for next year.
Luke Keary, Tevita Pangai Junior, Elliott Whitehead and Nick Cotric plus Super League’s Tommy Makinson and Olly Partington are all heading for Stade Gilbert Brutus to replace the departing Michael McIlorum, Tom Davies, Tom Johnstone, Mike McMeeken, Jordan Abdull, Manu Ma’u, Matt Ikuvalu and Jarrod Wallace.
And McNamara told local media that the recruitment may not yet be complete.
He said, “At this point we're not actively looking, but it's that time of year where things can happen and if they do we won't be afraid to continue to improve our team. We've made some exceptional signings at this point and the door is always open.
“We have six exceptional players coming in. We will have a new Performance Director who is world class (Ryan Whitley from Sydney Roosters). He's going to turn this playing group into a very, very athletic and strong team.
“For now, the need for change is there. For Andy Last's replacement (the Dragons’ assistant coach has returned to the UK), the process is well underway. But we will add quality people to our environment.
“The work we have done, the preparation we have put in place for next season, far exceeds anything I have done here before.”
CATALANS DRAGONS’ players will set flight from Stade Gilbert Brutus today (Tuesday) heading for home to reflect upon a difficult season and, for some, pastures new and horizons overseas (writes STEVE BRADY).
The Departures gate at Perpignan airport will be spinning over the next few days with players heading for a well-earned break at exotic holiday destinations, and others jetting off to Hull and Wakefield to further their careers at new clubs with exotic ambitions.
Eight Dragons are leaving for good, hooker Michael McIlorum and winger Tom Davies have signed for Hull KR in 2025; Tom Johnstone and Mike McMeeken will switch to Wakefield Trinity; Jordan Abdull is returning to Hull FC and centre Matt Ikuvalu and prop Jarrod Wallace have been released along with second-row Manu Ma’u.
It’s quite an exodus but in the other direction, heading for the opposite end of the runway at Rivesaltes International are NRL stars Luke Keary, Tevita Pangai Junior, Elliott Whitehead and Nick Cotric plus Super League’s Tommy Makinson and Olly Partington.
Like the millions of starlings that assemble and swoop in dazzling displays over Perpignan at this time of year, the annual migration has begun and it won’t be long after the skies have cleared that the ritual process of assimilating the newcomers into the playing group begins as the circle of life takes another revolution at Stade Gilbert Brutus.
The initial date for beginning of pre-season preparations has been set for November 4th, offering Les Dracs their first extended period of pre-season preparations for five years, with no play-off or international commitments this year.
But for the moment, it is a time for reflection.
The curtain came down on Catalans’ 2024 Super League season before a ball was kicked in their final fixture thanks to Leigh Leopards’ victory over St Helens on Friday night.
Saturday’s 24-4 win over second-bottom club Hull FC counted for nothing after Les Dracs were edged out of a top-six slot, eventually finishing seventh in the league table just above Leeds Rhinos on points difference.
“It’s simply not good enough,” said coach Steve McNamara after his side missed the play-offs for the first time in five years.
After competing in two Grand Finals (2021 and 2023) and lifting the league-leaders’ shield in 2021, this year represents a significant step backwards for the Dragons and McNamara is at a loss to explain why.
“Quite clearly we haven’t performed to the standards we have set ourselves,” he told Catalan Media.
“We had put ourselves in contention thanks to some consistently good performances in the early stages of the season but we haven’t been anywhere close to that level of performance recently.
“We need to find out the reasons why and we need to fix it.”
Catalans were top of the table in April but a series of second-half collapses in games at home and away saw them tumble down the ranks with defeat at London Broncos at the beginning of August representing the nadir of the slump.
Following that game club President Bernard Guasch announced in French press that he had been “the most ashamed” of his side’s performance since he set up the club in 2000 and promised to review playing and coaching decisions at the end of the season.
The playing group will scatter today, but tomorrow (Wednesday) will see the coaching staff’s review and reflection upon a season which had early promise but imploded dramatically.
The Dragons are looking for a new assistant coach following Andy Last’s decision to leave half-way through his two-year deal at the Brutus.
New Head Of Performance, former Sydney Roosters’ widely respected fitness and conditioning guru Ryan Whitley will be a major part of the rebuild for Catalans, as will the appointment of a new club Chief Executive, Sébastien Munoz.
Coach McNamara described the two appointments as “possibly the most significant additions” to the Dragons’ organisation next year.
All of these issues will be on the agenda of tomorrow’s staff meeting with item number one: the reasons for the team’s sudden collapse in form this year.
The return of Sam Tomkins from retirement and the late-season additions of Reimis Smith and Jarrod Wallace from the NRL couldn’t halt the slide.
Tomkins himself has admitted he is undecided whether or not he will continue playing after suffering no further damage to his troubled left knee - an injury which initially caused him to hang up his boots at the end of last term.
“I’m not sure, it’s 50-50 at the moment whether or not I will give it another go as a player. I’ve already spoken to the owner of the club and he said we’d have another talk at the end of the season,” said Tomkins.
“We didn’t think that the end would come so soon unfortunately.”
“We’re extremely disappointed with where we’ve finished this year and unfortunately our
position is an accurate reflection of how we have performed in the second half of this season.
“We’re under no illusions at the club, it’s a player issue and we simply haven’t played well enough week-in, week-out and we don’t deserve to be heading to another Grand Final.”
There is plenty to discuss once the players have been released later today and once the reflection and review is complete, all eyes will turn to the future and whether or not the Les Dracs Vintage 2025 will deserve to be back among the Premier Cru in the play-offs and en route for a return to the Theatre Of Dreams.
DRAGONS REACH FOR THE SKIES
“We’re under no illusions at the club, it’s a player issue... we simply haven’t played well enough week-in, week-out and we don’t deserve to be heading to another Grand Final...” Sam Tomkins
France to switch to summer season
RUGBY LEAGUE chiefs are discussing plans for a future UK-based championship which could contain four French clubs, according to the leader of the game in France.
French Federation President Dominique Baloup has revealed that talks have taken place between the FFRXIII and RFL with a view to further integrating the two nations and the potential establishment of a joint semi-professional competition beneath Super League, possibly to begin in 2028.
Baloup told media on the eve of the launch of this year’s French Championship that the game in France would switch from a winter season to summer to align with the English game prior to a series of play-off clashes followed by a potential fully-integrated league competition.
“The English agree, although nothing is signed yet,” Baloup told French newspaper La Dépêche Du Midi on the weekend of the brand new Super XIII 2024/25 opening fixtures.
The newly-named competition replaces the old Elite 1 championship and has been boosted to 11 teams with the addition of Villefranche Aveyron.
It could also be the final winter season for the French championship, a competition which began with the game’s formation in France in 1934.
Baloup added, “In 2025, we will consider a change in the calendar that could come into effect in 2026 with a season running from February to September.
“With our English friends, we are considering launching a European competition in January 2026, which will initially see the French champions and the winners of the Championship face off.
“The winner of the Coupe de France would play the champions of League One and the wheelchair and women's champions of the two countries would also meet.
“This would give four high-level matches over a weekend, a sort of European Cup for champion clubs that will be played over three seasons, from 2026 to 2028.
“The idea is to have at the end of these three years a Championship with two groups that integrate four French teams alongside the English clubs with a view of increasing professionalism of the clubs from both nations.”
A spokesman for the Rugby Football League confirmed that discussions regarding potential future fixtures between the winners of the English and French championships had taken place although no formal agreements had yet been made regarding future league structures involving French clubs.
“The RFL has maintained a regular and positive dialogue throughout the year with Dominique Baloup and Gilles Dumas at the Federation, covering a wide range of issues including the possibility of cross-Channel club competition – which we feel at the right level could be attractive and beneficial to successful Championship and League One clubs here, as well as to Elite One clubs in France. However there are no firm proposals at this stage.”
FFRXIII and RFL in talks to bring England and France closer together
Story: STEVE BRADY
A BRAND NEW Super XIII championship kicked off in France at the weekend with champions Carcassonne off to a winning start against newly-promoted Villefrance Aveyron.
Replacing the former Elite 1 top tier, Super XIII is designed to “promote professionalism” according to French Federation President Dominique Baloup.
He told French media on the eve of the competition’s launch: “The Super XIII is a new product. We want to move towards a high-level, more professional competition.
“This season, it will bring together eleven clubs with the accession of Villefranche-Aveyron. Next year, we want to increase to twelve teams. We would like to integrate a club outside the Occitanie region (largely the area around and between Toulouse and Perpignan) and we are targeting large cities like Bordeaux or Lyon.”
Baloup said a successful French championship was essential for the French international team adding, “We were disappointed with the result in Toulouse against England.
“I think we need to start a major collective reflection on the game we play. What is certain is that an England-France match will be on the calendar for the 2025 season. It is a necessity to develop our sport at European level. The English know this.
“Meanwhile, a World Cup Qualifying European Championship will be played in October in France without England which has already qualified. We will face Ukraine and then the winner of Wales-Serbia. In the final, we could face the Welsh.
“The European winner will play a tournament in the fall of 2025 with Jamaica, the Cook Islands and South Africa. This tournament is planned in France. The two finalists will then qualify for the World Cup.”
A France international under-19s squad will fly out to Australia this week for a three-match tour down under incorporating games against Sydney Roosters, Holy Cross College and Australia Schoolboys at Burleigh Bears on the Gold Coast.
The French players will be hosted by Roosters (and former Catalans Dragons) coach Trent Robinson and keen international development official Tas Baitieri.
The tour is intended to become an annual event with Baloup adding, “To close this tour, the group will attend the grand final of the NRL championship and visit several professional clubs in order to immerse the young people in the Australian culture of Rugby League.
“The objective is to confront our best players with their counterparts in Australia for the benefit of the young players of both nations and we are grateful for the warmth of the reception we have already received from down under."
PERPIGNAN'S MELTING POT
Ben Lam's switch from French rugby union's Top 14 competition is a "major moment" for Rugby League says leading administrator.
PERPIGNAN is the perfect melting pot for any potential thawing of relations between rugby union and League according to a leading official in both codes.
Catalans Dragons’ Director of Sport Neil McIlroy spent 19 years on the staff at leading union side ASM Clermont and he has just overseen the first-ever top-level transfer of a player from 15 to 13-a-side in France with Ben Lam moving from Montpellier to Les Dracs.
“It’s huge, he’s huge,” said McIlroy about the 6’4” 18-stone winger who has spent the past three weeks training with the Dragons.
“It’s the first time a player has moved from a top union to a top League club in France,” said McIlroy, “And we shouldn’t underestimate the effect it is already having.”
The history of the two codes in France has been difficult to say the least since League broke away from union in 1934, hostilities peaking with a wartime ban for the 13-a-side game and the confiscation of all its assets which were handed over to the 15-a-siders.
Rivalry remains intense in Perpignan with union side USAP playing Top 14 games a stone’s throw away from the Dragons at nearby Stade Aimé Girale.
Recent suggestions by the city mayor that the two clubs could groundshare were met with a hysterical meltdown in local press and on social media from fans on either side of the divide.
McIlroy added, “It’s true that there has been a historically difficult relationship between the codes and it still seems prevalent in Perpignan which is a pretty passionate place when it comes to rugby.
“I think the economic climate plays a major role, particularly in Perpignan which isn’t one of the biggest or richest cities in France.
“Union and League are competing vigorously for a piece of the professional sports pie and that can bring certain rivalries of the past to the fore.”
But former Scottish union prop McIlroy believes cross-code player moves can initiate a healing process, adding: “Beyond financial considerations, in my experience there is a genuine appreciation between the codes at professional level, between players, coaches and staff.
“And there is a general admiration from other parts of the country that a town like Perpignan can have two leading teams of both rugby codes.
“This isn’t Paris, Lyon, Marseille or Toulouse, it is quite an achievement to have two clubs at the top level of their sport here.
“There is rivalry but we do have some cross-code supporters. I think the two can, and should, co-exist and there is an increasing mutual appreciation from one to the other.
“There is a level of curiosity about cross-code players that can only be good for both games, just look at the headlines made when Israel Folau went from League to union in Australia.
“People are curious to see how the bigger names will fit in and I think Ben’s move to the Dragons is already creating a lot of attention.
“I’m fascinated myself, obviously in my professional role here, but also on a general level I think people are intrigued by players who cross the codes.
“Ben’s move is a huge development, it shows that there is a pathway and the door is open between the codes, it sends out a strong message.
"Ben's move is huge, it shows that there is a pathway between the two codes in France and the door is open..."
NEIL McILROY
“There are over 30 professional union clubs in France with big budgets up to over 50 million euros a year and this move shows that we are an attractive option for players who want to try their hand at League.”
McIlroy believes Lam can be a big hit for Catalans, adding: “Obviously, you’ve got a much better chance of making a successful switch if you’re a wide player, it’s much more difficult for a forward moving from union to League, but Ben’s got all the cards in his hands.
“He will have game-time with our reserves (St Esteve XIII Catalan) in the French championship and that is our initial plan for him. The Super League season will wind up shortly and the Super XIII (formerly Elite 1) begins at the end of September.
“We want him to immerse himself completely in the game so he’ll train with the Dragons’ first team, we want him to learn as quickly as possible and there is no better way than having senior staff and players around you.
“It’s clear already that all the guys in the first-team group are keen to help him and guide him with his positional awareness so we’ll see what it brings.
“He’s 6’4” and around 118kg, he usually plays union at 115kg so he’s going to get that down. His last game for Montpellier was the beginning of June so he’s just getting back into it now.
“He could have continued his career in union in France but he’s desperately keen to throw his hat in the ring and have a go at League before he finishes.
“It’s a learning curve for him but he and his representatives made us an offer based upon a trial period that we could almost not refuse. He now has a personal challenge to achieve a professional contract with us.
Story: STEVE BRADY
“It’s a learning curve for him but he and his representatives made us an offer based upon a trial period that we could almost not refuse. He now has a personal challenge to achieve a professional contract with us.
“His trial period goes until Christmas and we want to see him on the field, he is a big man physically but there is a lot more to it than that so he’ll get game time in the championship and we’ll make a mutual decision with him around Christmas.”
McIlroy revealed that Lam was available to fit into the Dragons’ first-team playing squad immediately if absolutely necessary but it wasn’t part of the current planning.
He was included in the 21-man squad which prepared for the recent trip to Leeds Rhinos but not slected in the playing 17.
The Dragons are preparing for 2025 and the Auckland-born Samoa international will be 33 when next year’s Super League season starts with the potential for a partnership with another new Dragons’ recruit at centre who has similar physical attributes, this time hailing from Rugby League and the NRL’s Melbourne Storm.
“We’ve got Reimis Smith, he’s a big boy too,” said McIlroy.
Catalans have also got Nick Cotric and Tommy Makinson lined up to replace departing wingers Tom Johnstone and Tom Davies, but judging by Lam’s sheer physical presence so far at training at Stade Gilbert Brutus, he might just force his way into first team contention.
And maybe even before this current Super League season ends with only London Broncos and Hull FC remaining on the fixture list.
