audois

Barnyia. Thanks for that. I'd heard something about that with Chris Walker. Wait and see I suppose. Are your lads getting ready for their first league match? Nice set-up at Villeneuve Minervois. Must make return trip soon.

Well the local comp kicks off this weekend with France's very own version of Magic Weekend with all five ties to be played down in the Corbieres at Lezigan starting with Avignon-Villeneuve and the big Aude Derby FCL-ASC on the Saturday. Both these openers to be televised live by Orange Sport. The latter should feature the two top signings this year in the two former Salford lads Phil Leuluai and Luke Swain playing against each other. The Kiwi should also have former Dragon Andrew Bentley and ex -Toulouse man Nathan Wynn alongside which should make the Lezignan side odds on to retain their league title. The three other matches on the Sunday. Last years runners -up Pia have recruited strongly taking ASC's Chris Moly and two decent Limoux players in Arty Shead and centre Mathieu Mayans. Few are looking beyond these three sides for the honours in 2011. Limoux could be a bit off the pace and have Aussie Daniel Wagon returning as coach. Not sure if he intends to play or not. The Grizzlies have a Welsh feel with Gareth Dean now on board alongside Geriant Davies from the Scorpions and Barrow's Anthony Blackwood. There was a hope that the game would cut back on the number of overseas players but it looks like business as usual unfortunately. Sixteen signed up in the Aude alone. It makes it harder for the other hopefuls to compete and inhibits clubs from seeking promotion. Montpellier have made the move up this year at least giving the comp ten clubs. Fingers very much crossed for them as they dont appear to have brought on board many new players. Last year FCL played Pia in the Final. As their Juniors did. These clubs have the pick of all the best players including the kids coming through. Interestingly this past summer Villeneuve who its believed will be coached some time this year by Stanley Gene supplied up to half a dozen of the Federations Roosters team U20s who played against Super League opposition. Hopefully USV will be on an upward curve with some of their youngsters building on their recent success. They've also got a good lively full back returning in Farid Nicolas too. In the same vein will be I think the entente St Gaudens-Toulouse. The link between these clubs seems to be developing nicely. Two veteran Aussies seem to have returned in Adam Innes and Rus Bussain to add experience to a youthful squad. TO XIII blooding lads before the CC challenge across the Channel re-starts in February. There will be interest to see how the improvements up in Provence at Avignon and Carpentras will be built on. SOA have an Aussie coach Amos returning and have taken two good forwards from Limoux in Aaron Wood and Joris Casals. RCCC too should shape up. The two Khattabi brothers lead the way and Said Tamghart returning from Halifax will create a feisty pack and young Soubrayas in the backs gives some dash outwide. Will be interesting to see what Steve Deakin makes of St Esteve-XIII Catalans the Dragons feeder club. All French obviously and now with wing Carlos Mendes signed up when it was thought he would end up in Carcasssonne after playing for Toulouse last year in the CC. No doubt the incoming Trent Robinson will want to have a look at these hopefuls before deciding who will get the final jumpers at the Dragons come 2011.

I think your right. Presently all of London, Wales and France have two clubs playing at SL and Championship level. If you got a situation where all six were fully professional it would I believe be a real motor for taking the game forward. Toulouse's best gate since Widnes went there in the Cup back in 2005 was a pre-season friendly this year against Catalans when they pulled 4000.

And dont forget the 65000 watching the code in SE Queensland too.

For Octobers EC campaign. Bobbie Goulding comes up with a few surprises including Melbourne's 20 yr half back Dane Chisholm who qualifies with a French mother. He hasn't played NRL yet but like Widdop is in the first grade squad and retained for 2011. No surprise that Jason Baitieri is included as he's joined Catalans this week. Some fitness issues there with Ferriol, Baile, Bosc and Mounis but theres some time before the opening game on 9 Oct against Ireland at Avignon. Good to see some lads who shone in the Roosters set-up included in this group in wing Quentin Nauroy and hooker Eloi Pellissier both from St Esteve and FCLs Julian Bousquet. Also good to see two young forwards from Toulouse included Kevin Larroyer and Yoan Tisseyre who have turned up in 2010. BG takes the squad to Biarritz for a week at the end of the month. Squad: Romaric Bemba, Roman Gagliazzo, Teddy Saddiou (Carcassonne); Jean Philippe Baille, Thomas Bosc, Remi Casty, Olivier Elima (capt), Jamal Fakir, David Ferriol, Cyril Gossard, Clint Greenshields, Gregory Mounis, Sebastian Raguin (Catalan Dragons); Matthew Alberola, Thibault Ancely, Andrew Bentley, Julian Bousquet, Nicolas Munoz, Florian Quintilla, Micheal Tribillac (Lezignan); Dane Chisholm (Melbourne Storm); Maxime Greseque, Christophe Moly (Pia); Jason Baitieri (Sydney Roosters); Vincent Duport, Matthew Griffi, Kevin Larroyer, Antony Maria, Yoan Tisseyre (Toulouse); William Barthau, Kane Bentley, Tony Gigot, Sebastien Martins, Quentin Nauroy, Eloi Pellissier, Michael Simon, Cyril Stacul, Julian Touxagas, Frederic Vaccari (UTC).

Must admit wasn't aware that Bernard Guasch was against Dragons players taking part in EC. He's certainly not a fan of the mid-season Tests. Hadn't heard about Greenshields not available either. If so may be injury issues. Think the EC is really, really big for France with Four Nations riding on it. Its a chance for the French lads to get some credibility back into their game. Hope so.

You think of the likes of Justin Murphy, John Wilson and especially Alex Chan, 'the padre' as they called him who all spilt blood for the cause. Not great players but committed to the cause fully. Got them to Wembley and third place in 2008 playing above themselves may be. The club have some re-building to do now. What is better now than when they first kicked off is that they've got a solid nucleus of half a dozen experienced French lads all with around 100 games under their belts, Guisset, Mounis, Bosc, Casty, Ferriol, Raguin and Fakir. This will make it easier for the next wave of youngsters. Expect something more especially from Baile and Martins in 2011. Both in early 20's but been out injured for most of this year. Fingers crossed.

Two year contract for the 21 year old Sydney Roosters loose forward. Of course son of Tas Baitieri who was in charge at PSG. Jason was born in France. Only a couple of NRL appearances under his belt. His dad has been a big influence on the games development over the last decade or so in both Europe and Australia. Nice to have that link up but what happens on the pitch will be what counts. Dragons appear to be going back to the type of overseas lads they started with at the start.

Didn't Leeds and Wire share the same colours in the 1961 Championship Final at Odsal. The difference then Warrington always had predominately white shirt ( broadish blueband with narrower primrose bands*) and White shorts. Leeds I think traditional blue shirt with broad amber and narrow hoops and all blue shorts. My black and white photo images of that tie show I think it worked well giving plenty of contrast which was sadly missing Saturday. *see Dave Ts Brian Bevan stamp image

I think the first final between Wire and Leeds was the first ever 50,000 + crowd back in 1936. Is there a time limit by the way when the middle tier 18,000 Club Wembley enclosure expires? The other irritation for me are those prime seats right on half way. The recipients are always slow to back into their places after the break. They owe it to the players. Sponsors for me are important but not as important as some of them think. For me they should join the parade for sure but really tailing off at the back somewhere. Give the prime seats if necessary to former participants who have graced the finals and the kids who have played in the Championship Schools events. What was the problem they had with the microphone for the lass who sang AWM? Have they a problem with the pitch still? I thought it not as good as the old Wembley green. Thought the clash of shirts spoilt a bit the spectacle.

I'm sure they do but I don't know the exact number. Think Mitchell was Pacific Island qualified so may be it was four. Other CC clubs I think it was one.

Well last year they had five, Worth, Mitchell, Bromley, N Wynn and T Wynn. Pelo is New Caledonia so I think doesn't count although I thought it was a Federation trained issue. Saturday night they fielded only two while Halifax had I think Tamghart, Black, Branighan, Royston, Watene and Nash. I dont know if they are looking to reduce quota for TO.

As you say TO have re-signed most of last years squad so it appears committed to another year in the CC. There is talk that they will play NRC as well but unsure whether that is part of a unique French Pool or not. What partly did for them this year was they lost stand off Villegas and had no real replacement like last year when they lost Nathan Wynn mid season. Also lot was expected of Worrall and Duport which didn't materialise because of injuries. Its interesting that you mention Branighan may land up there as I heard the same rumour Saturday night. Ditto that Kane Bentley may also land up there which would be a very good acquisition. Yeah agree with you about wasted opportunities with some French lads snubbing the CC but some compensation with the arrival of the Roosters U20 and Catalans U18s. I think one the issues is the older players are already in fixed employment and getting time off every other week end just doesn't work. I think last year TO had about eight full time players including the overseas contingent.

They are probably the best supported team outside the Dragons. For Derby games against Carcassonne and Limoux would see crowds of around 3000. They do pull from around the Corbieres region which has a pop of say 20,000. Lezignan is an out and out league town although nearby Narbonne played in the Top 14 until a few years back. They are starting to talk of 'what now' after two successive league titles just as Villeneuve did at the beginning of the decade. After seeing TO efforts over the last two seasons it needs I think some reflection. For example why would Toulouse's best player transfer to a lower level? May be for more easier money and less hasle travelling wise. There may be something we dont know. Like returning to TO when FCL season finishes. I must admit I got it wrong thinking that the best players over here not at the Dragons would just automatically finish up in Toulouse. The challenge of pitting themselves against the next level down. In reality whats happened is lots of young hopefuls have put their hands up for TO but players like Moly, Greseque, Gagliazzo, Saddaoui and Sabri have all stayed put. I watched Toulouse struggle a few weeks back because their centres were injured or out of form. In the stand alongside was Mathieu Mayans from Limoux. He could have done a good job for them that night. The Federation had a policy of three overseas players per club but they have appeared to drop this now. Now their approach is to charge each club more money for the license of overseas players, this to double and then treble in successive seasons. Looking at the comp now though it is already looking like a two speed affair as FCL and Pia have bought up what talent there is. Breast beating when you win a league of nine sides like last season has little merit I think. As FCL grow stronger each year the stragglers fall further behind. Clubs like Albi and Lyon have given up the chase and are content to play second tier at a level they can cope with.

Look to be a rising force in the French game. After a cup and league double last season their roster gets stronger by the day. Reported here that the Dragons back rower Andrew Bentley will play with the FCL when their campaign opens next month. It appears both the Bentley lads will not be retained in the Dragons squad for 2011. No sign yet of hooker Kane ending up in the Corbieres with his brother. Bentley's signing would add to that of Phillip Leuluia arriving from Salford for a second stint here. He played previously at Limoux. A third signing of note would be half back Nathan Wynn probably Toulouse Olympiques best player. These three recruits plus the other Aussies Duggan and Mullane and two promising youngster in centre Cardace and forward Bousquet will possibly make the FCL near untouchable. Their young coach Aurelien Cologni's star is rising all the time too.

40 man squad announced with Chris Nero and Rocky Trimarchi from Super League in the group Nine Aussie based lads too including Paul Franze who previously played at Cas and in France at Pia. Another former Donkey in there in Chris Calegari who this year will play at second division Palau. Looks like a serious bid for recognition. A bit like Lebanon who they play twice in Italy next month before their two matches in Wales in October. Is this the first serious European Cup?

Marginet played the last three games. The one I saw was against Warrington where he played hooker with Barthau at loose forward and Robin in the halves. I must admit at stages I have been excited by all three. Marginet as a junior was the best I've seen over here at that age level. He had a swagger about him but some thought too much of one. But he's back now it appears and may be grown up a bit. I saw Barthau produce some good stuff last year for St Esteve but to me hasn't really imposed himself at all yet with the Dragons in SL. He's a confidence player a bit like Thomas Bosc and when things are going against you cannot lift his game unlike Tony Gigot who is a more assertive player who's willing to chance his arm. Mind you bringing the youngsters in this season has been tough as the Catalans form has been poor. I think Gigot is in front of Barthau at present but I would have liked to see him play more in the halves whereas they have used him from the bench as interchange hooker. But going back to Robin against Warrington U20s he looked to me infront of both Marginet and Barthau in that match. Scored a lovely try picking the right line and sprinting over from 20 metres out. The week before at St Helens he galloped the length of the field for a try. But your right after years when France seemed OK with their forwards but offered little behind they are starting bit by bit to get some halves pushing their noses forward. As for threequarters thats another story.

Yeah the way to go for sure. Last weekend there were four cross Channel games. The French needs this exposure as much as possible. Last year the Catalans U18s played four friendlies. This time 8 games in official competition. Hopefully the Roosters will look to entering the Valvoline Cup proper in 2011 which would be a huge undertaking needing the support of the individual clubs. As I understand it the French Federation cover the costs of the Roosters side while the Dragons run the U18s.

Roosters just finished their 2010 campaign losing their last game at home to Quins 26-40. They won 2, drew 1 and lost 4. They used probably 35 lads in total which was the goal. Most of the opposition had more settled teams. On defence in particular the Roosters had communication problems. The lad who stood out for me consistently when ever I saw him was was the speedy half back from Villeneuve Robin who featured interestingly in all seven games. Villeneuve had surprisingly up to six players in the group. Disappointing that the Aude only had two in total from their three clubs those being the two from Lezignan forward Bousquet and centre Cardace both who look fine prospects. Toulouse had several lads some who have played in the Co-operative Championship like Biennes, Mencarini and Vignau. Catalans made up the bulk of the squad. Winger Nauroy, centre Grau and utility player Pala got some brownie points. A surprise re-appearance was half back Marginet who was the outstanding junior in France a couple of years back but disappeared. Played some union at Narbonne and rumoured played some league in AustraliaI but now back in the fold. With the Catalans U18s they are playing in the Valvoline Academy C Group and their first four results have been as follows: Crusaders won 37-30, Salford won 26-22, Huddersfield lost 18-28, Hull FC lost 27-28.

Catalans in last place this year finished 8th in 2009 and were 80 minutes from OT. This year Sydney Roosters are real NRL play off contenders yet finished bottom of the pile last season. Off course forgot to mention Crusaders well bottom in 2009 now contenders for play off place this year.

I think one of the results of full time professionalism and the SL was that it really meant only a dozen or clubs so have got any chance of reaching Wembley. When we had one big league of semi professionals it was different. There was always a feel that it could be your year. In 1967 with a Barrow/Fev Final you had two sides who finished in I think 16th and 17th in the league that year. I believe the lowest ever league standing 25th was Halifax when reaching the CC Final in the late 1940s.

Yeah I was hoping that the Wales game would be at Toulouse's Stade Ernest Wallon. They got nearly 13000 last November there for NZ but Scotland not the same pull. A bit presumptuous to think this will be the final (Wales) although I'm hoping it will be. From Carcassonne should get to all three on the train hopefully. All three matches to be televised live by TNT channel Direct 8 who earlier covered the Test at Leigh against England taking the Sky feed. Who knows they may reciprocate for the matches played over here.

Its been reported now that France will host matches here on: 09 Octobre 2010 15h30 : France

Chez Felix closed Sundays but try back door and knock three times! Les treizistes will be there for sure. Not sure about Celt Bar three strides away but you may have luck there too. Sorry got the wrong day. Chez Felix is open today and I'm certain they will show the CC tie.

Good to hear all that. I noticed Gareth Dean not on team sheet Sunday. I know Gareth because he plays here in Carcassonne although from next season he will be transfering over to Limoux. His idea of going to the Scorpions is to put himself in the window for the EC.