17 replies to this topic

[audois]

Bernard Guasch interview in last weeks local paper anticipates challenging years ahead with WC separating 2013-14 campaigns. He sees important games for France at Avignon & Perpignan next autumn. Already talk of the third and final major development – touchline stand opposite the main stand - at Stade Brutus with the new stand behind the posts expected to be completed next year with bars and restaurant one of which I understand will be open on none match days

The permanent giant tv screen is going ahead and will be used for the first time when Leeds arrive on Easter Monday. Seems to be costing an arm & a leg & they are asking everybody to contribute. Just this past week one of their many supporters groups donated €1,000 to the fund and next months official squad presentation in Carcassonne will be expected to make a contribution too.

The club are heading to Paris in the new year to talk to Charles Bietry & his people at Beinsport television about how they can work closer together. Should be interesting as the new kids on the block are making waves since their launch earlier this year.

They quote a healthy budget of €7.5M with season ticket sales expected to pass 5,000 for the first time – numbers already up 10% on last year. The new club shop has been very well received. Having the Samoa WC game there as well as the French Championship Final in May at Brutus should further add to its profitability.

Laurent Frayssinous’s squad with 20 French & ten overseas players on board with the latter including three with British passports; Blanch, Henderson & Pryce. But Guasch sees the first French coach in SL as being the catalyst which will bring through a new wave of young French players for the first time. Newcomers in the squad named this week being Cardace; Barthau, Maria, Larroyer and Pala with others such as Escare, Robin, Guasch and Miloudi threatening to make an impact before the year is out. The clubs feeder outfit St Esteve are under Steve Deakin- Luke Swain having their best ever season with wins already against Lezignan and Carcassonne.

Edited by audois, 26 December 2012 - 11:14 AM.

[Dave T]

Good stuff. Always interesting and exciting to read.

[keighley]

That's a good and positive story which goes to counteracting the gloomy situation at Salford somewhat.

[cookey]

Well done Keighley,keep up the good work!

[markleeds]

Some positive stuff there, my only criticism is the amount of Aussies in the team.

[thundergaz]

Some positive stuff there, my only criticism is the amount of Aussies in the team.

This is a serious question as I don't watch SL but watch the CC when it's on bbc but are the Catalans aloud more Aussies than other SL clubs? Because it looks that way.

Edited by thundergaz, 23 December 2012 - 06:00 PM.

[HappyDave]

Fantastic news.

Sorry but I have to agree about the Antipodiean 'issue' though. I think Catalans get their players French citizenship as soon as they've been at the club for 3 years or in Europe for 3 years?

Possibly a tiny bit like 'Willie and his incredible no-show Tongan passport' while he was in Hull?...

[southstand loiner]

This is a serious question as I don't watch SL but watch the CC when it's on bbc but are the Catalans aloud more Aussies than other SL clubs? Because it looks that way.

not unless wigan and wakefield are are counted as been in france also

[CANETMAN]

Again this just goes to show how in France clubs progress much more than in the UK due to the help received from the council and region.

Good things happening at the Dragons although i do agree with others that the amount of local talent in the first team after 7 seasons in SL is very poor.

CM

[JohnM]

Bernard Guasch interview in last weeks local paper anticipates challenging years ahead with WC seperating 2013-14 campaigns. He sees important games for France at Avignon & Perpigaon next autumn. Already talk of the third and final major development – touchline stand opposite the main stand - at Stade Brutus with the new stand behind the posts expected to be completed next year with bars and restaurant one of which I understand will be open on none match days

The tv giant screen is going ahead and will be used for the first time when Leeds arrive on Easter Monday. Seems to be costing an arm & a leg & they are asking everybody to contribute. Just this past week one of their many supporters groups donated €1,000 to the fund and next months official squad presentation in Carcassonne will be expected to make a contribution too.

The club are heading to Paris in the new year to talk to Charles Bietry & his people at Beinsport television about how they can work closer together. Should be interesting as the new kids on the block are making waves since their launch earlier this year.

They quote a healthy budget of €7.5M with season ticket sales expected to pass 5,000 for the first time – numbers already up 10% on last year. The new club shop has been very well received. Having the Samoa WC game there as well as the French Championship Final in May at Brutus should further add to its profitability.

Laurent Frayssinous’s squad with 20 French & ten overseas players on board with the latter including three with British passports; Blanch, Henderson & Pryce. But Guasch sees the first French coach in SL as being the catalyst which will bring through a new wave of young French players for the first time. Newcomers in the squad named this week being Cardace; Barthau, Maria, Larroyer and Pala with others such as Escare, Robin, Guasch and Miloudi threatening to make an impact before the year is out. The clubs feeder outfit St Esteve are under Steve Deakin- Luke Swain having their best ever season with wins already against Lezignan and Carcassonne.

Gordon, Good to see Cats AND you up and running for the new season. I trust you are now OK.

[audois]

Gordon, Good to see Cats AND you up and running for the new season. I trust you are now OK.

Cheers, John. Achilles tendons slow jobs to get right.

The strength of Perpignan also evident yesterday when two small villages nearby Baho-Palau (34-30 breath taking tie with leaders suffering first loss) pulled nearly 3,000 to their derby clash. These two are presently first & second in Elite 2. On the field probably several notches ahead of Montpellier and may be Lescure in Elite 1. I dont know if the want promotion or the other clubs dont want more village sides like Pia on board. The thing is Pia at the top of Elite 1 cant draw more than 600 or so even with their 8 overseas lads bashing everybody up. Far more watched yesterday than when Pia played the Dragons feeder club full of young French kids recently. Thinking about it that quoted figure is the best crowd this season in France for any domestic game.

Elsewhere up in the Aude at Villeneuve Minervois a league cup final crowd of nearly 500 saw the federal clash - tier 4 - between the locals and near neighbours Prexian finishing 26-27 for the visitors. These derbys with full local participation have their pull dont they.

Edited by audois, 25 December 2012 - 02:49 PM.

[barnyia]

the first photo is of Daniel Wagon, good to see a player adding experience to lower level rl in France,

won the state of origin with queeensland and now the division 4 regional league cup

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Edited by barnyia, 24 December 2012 - 03:15 PM.

[barnyia]

Cracking Games yesterday. villeneuve hosted 5 games over the weekend, from the under 13's to open age,

Lovely day around 650 spectators on the sunday in a nice sunshine and 17 degrees,

A great success for the villeneuve club even though we missed the last conversion to win the game,

out of all the younger finals the catalan region had the most teams, with some finals being all catalan,

Glad to hear your back on your feet Gordon.

[audois]

Cracking Games yesterday. villeneuve hosted 5 games over the weekend, from the under 13's to open age,

Lovely day around 650 spectators on the sunday in a nice sunshine and 17 degrees,

A great success for the villeneuve club even though we missed the last conversion to win the game,

out of all the younger finals the catalan region had the most teams, with some finals being all catalan,

Glad to hear your back on your feet Gordon.

Listened in on the local radio to match commentary. You lot up in the Minervois must be chuffed to bits with what you're putting together with so many youngsters in tow. What a great turn out. The local league is something thats been missing for years. With Flassian now there are five sides really competitive; would be good to get Ornaisons back next term. Well done. ps - see the cherry-white shirt got a look in too!

[Viking Warrior]

the first photo is of Daniel Wagon, good to see a player adding experience to lower level rl in France,

won the state of origin with queeensland and now the division 4 regional league cup

so he's this years ben fisher then???? will be joining catalans on a dodgy loan if one of their antipodean army gets injured........

[RLDave]

Very very impressing news, 17 degrees!! Imagine that. Bring on the gales

[audois]

Catalans brought over just one NRL recruit this year Zaia for Sa. This appears now the new trend although they are bringing over antipodeans from other SL clubs, Menzies, Anderson and now Webb. I read a while back from a journo in NZ. He said the Warriors have always been strongest when they had a half a dozen or so plus Aussies on board. It got me thinking that. I reckon that Catalan will not be able to challenge the best in SL in the foreseeable future if ever with French lads alone. If the antipodean market drys up may be the likes of Leon Pryce crossing the Channel will be the norm.

[hutch]

the first photo is of Daniel Wagon, good to see a player adding experience to lower level rl in France,

won the state of origin with queeensland and now the division 4 regional league cup

Pretty sure daniel wagon also won a comp in the amnrl a couple of years back, he certainly is a well travelled player.