Correct.

I actually agree with you.
What is ultimately disappointing is that nobody is open enough to say this and it would make more sense to find a way of including Toulouse and Toronto in SL.
Maybe "we" should expand have a 14 club top flight and exempt Catalan, Toulouse and Toronto from relegation.
After all their sole reason for being in the "European" competition is to play in SL we may as well just get used to the idea.

Clearly, these clubs aren't really viable outside SL, so why not just get on with having them in the top flight and the game can then benefit from it's international flavour.

I can't readily see what fifteen years of Super league rugby league (2 years for Paris and 13 for Catalans) has done for rugby league in France. Can anybody quantify the benefits to French RL for me, please?

There are now considerably more French players in Super League than before. As there are only 2 fully professional rugby league leagues in the world, this benefits French RL.

Quote ="Sir Kevin Sinfield"There are now considerably more French players in Super League than before. As there are only 2 fully professional rugby league leagues in the world, this benefits French RL.'" How many French players are in SL now Jean ? In 2016 Catalans had less home grown players that any other club in SL https://www.thestatszone.com/super-leag ... as-players

Quote ="Sir Kevin Sinfield"There are now considerably more French players in Super League than before. As there are only 2 fully professional rugby league leagues in the world, this benefits French RL.'" How many French players are in SL now Jean ? In 2016 Catalans had less home grown players that any other club in SL https://www.thestatszone.com/super-leag ... as-players

It's not helped their national team, that's for sure. That was the initial propaganda about having Catalans placed in SL.....WHAT A JOKE !
We signed 2 of their players, one a french international, who they released to make room for their overseas players.

How many overseas players have Leigh signed over the last 3 or 4 years?

Quote ="The Reason"How many French players are in SL now Jean ? In 2016 Catalans had less home grown players that any other club in SL https://www.thestatszone.com/super-leag ... as-players'" Should you include French players who are currently playing for English clubs or, doesn't this suit your agenda ?

Quote ="The Reason"How many French players are in SL now Jean ? In 2016 Catalans had less home grown players that any other club in SL https://www.thestatszone.com/super-leag ... as-players'" Should you include French players who are currently playing for English clubs or, doesn't this suit your agenda ?

a helluva lot/too many ....and your point being ? Surely any French player wants to play for Catalans, agreed if they are TOP DRAWER like Escare, Fages then they will struggle to keep hold of them, etc One of our best players last season was Antoni Maria, who we signed from Catalans. We wanted to keep him, but he returned to them. He has only played twice for them this season. Like a lot of French lads, he would be better off at Toulouse. Obviously Catalans do what's best for themselves, not their country/France.

Are you saying Les Catalans are now a feeder club for SL?

Shed loads....but we're not discussing Leigh!
France RL is a basket case and Catalans haven't helped......the culture there is the same as an NRL retirement home......Toulouse will be the same if they head up.

They won't be the same because the Toulouse coach, Sylvain Houles, wants a predominantly French team.

Unfortunately having a predominantly French team,won't see them surviving SL. Should they get there,which is starting to look a little brickle at present.

The French national side would be relegated from SL without a win........there is a massive difference between getting to SL and staying there.

The point is a club founded in 1878 (Leigh) can’t survive without signing overseas players, but a club founded in 2000 (Catalan) are expected to, according to some of you flatcappers.


Obviously Catalans do what’s best for themselves. Do Leigh do what’s best for themselves or what’s best for their country/England?

No, we're helping out France, by signing French SL players!

You're obviously obsessed with us, why Sir Jean ?

Full of imports yeah, we had 5 in our last game at Sheffield.....Your beloved Leeds Rhinos (also flat cappers) only have 7 overseas players......MUST DO BETTER PETAL !

Flatcappers or Flat Clappers. Either way, this moniker is restricted to our friends from Featherstone Rovers.

Quote ="The Reason"How many French players are in SL now Jean ? In 2016 Catalans had less home grown players that any other club in SL https://www.thestatszone.com/super-leag ... as-players'" Hello.......

Quote ="The Reason"How many French players are in SL now Jean ? In 2016 Catalans had less home grown players that any other club in SL https://www.thestatszone.com/super-leag ... as-players'" Hello.......

Listen you stupid pseudo white flag surrender monkey, I don't care if Leigh, Leeds or the entire SL and Championship sides from England are all rammed with ANZACS......we were discussing Catalans, so stop attempting to deflect from them and debate the issue.

Catalans are the pinnacle of French Rugby League, the top team, the numero uno side...the bees knees and the Mutts nuts, yet they have to rely on average ANZACS year on year and are rooted to the foot of the table.

It's not like there wasn't any RL in the SW of France prior to Catalans joining SL.....there is quite a healthy semi-pro competition down there that sees good crowds for their finals footie, so there is little excuse for the Catalans Dragons to be over reliant on ANZAC pensioners, looking for a nice few years on sunny beaches with cheap plonk.......and if Toulouse go up, it will be exactly the same there too......because French RL isn't producing the talent in large enough numbers.

It matters not that Leeds, St Helens, Wigan etc are rammed with ANZAC Talent, nor that Toronto, should they go up will raid the NRL.......Catalans Dragons were admitted to SL to help the French game develop......they haven't, it hasn't and all we get now are rants from the owner about an anti-french bias



As it stands, I can see Catalan v Toronto in Toronto as the MPG.........and if the French go down I see the game in France being set back by dozens of years......

I always thought that was the case Sparky. Not sure why things have changed.

I think flatcappers and flat-earthers are being confused here.......it's just easier to say pit village, whippet owning or pigeon fanciers.....apparently Northern Monkeys isn't acceptable in some part of Yorkshire......

You're getting confused with our neighbours across the Tees in Hartlepool; they like to hang 'em.....monkeys that is.

Its not deflecting from Catalans or a different issue. The fact is every Super League club has “ANZACS”
To suggest Catalans shouldn’t, and that they only sign French players because they are a French club is delusional.

No other club they’re competing with plays without overseas players, despite existing for 100+ years before Catalans came along.

Careful, we've still got some rope left!