Number of French players produced by Catalans = a lot
Number of French players produced by Huddersfield = 0

I'm also pretty sure that despite having a large number of overseas players Catalans have produced far more Super League players overall than Huddersfield in the past decade, maybe even double or triple the number. Buying players from other clubs in order to field a largely British team doesn't equate to contributing to the talent pool or developing players. Catalans went to large expense to fly junior teams over to play any SL clubs that would host them, Huddersfield can't even be bothered to run a reserve team.

I know, why would any RL team want to sign good players? Heaven forbid.

Is there any hard evidence the game actually took place?

All I've seen is a picture of bateman in an england top with the ball that could well have been photoshopped and a ''match report'' which basically amounts to a few paragraphs seemingly scragged together in 5 minutes or less.

Is there any eye witness accounts?

I don't even think it'd hold up in a caught of law.

Aren't France in the European Cup? Why should they play a full strength team?

Turns out the French were actually denied permission to hold training sessions at Stade Gilbert Brutus, which then offered to host sessions for the Kiwis.

Seems the Dragons are more interested in hosting another national sides rather than their own. Sums up the problems in the French game.

Wow the Giants haven't produced any French players ! you are so...deep.



Whereas the Dragons have produced.....lots (I suppose that is as precise at you can get?) The appalling performance at the LSV today said little for the quality of these 'lots'. In the first 8 minutes of the second half England scored 24 points!

Catalans developing maybe 'double or triple' the players coming from the Giants

Why not go for quadruple? If you are going to be fast and loose with your 'imaginary figures' it does not make much differences when you are being so vague.

People wanting to look at the facts - not your strong suit I appreciate - know that many clubs think an U23s comp is a waste of time. And that the Giants can find as many or more Huddersfield developed players in their 17 than Catalans can find Frenchmen.

The only SL team in France opts to have 11/12 overseas players in its best 17. The French national side was dreadful today and they struggled to beat Ireland. Pathetic.

I posed the question of the thread on the assumption that France would play close to its best possible team.





It turns out that 11 of the 13 run on players in the team that I named did not play.

We all know that there is no depth to France's talent pool, so to miss 11 of the 13 first choice run on team players virtually guaranteed an annihilation by England.

This French team was obviously France A, not France. The situation was farcical. Both the French Federation and RFL bear responsibility for the holding of this farcically uneven contest. You cannot expect the France A team to compete with France, let alone England. The team selection turned the thread question into a purely abstract exercise.

Caught of law





Brilliant.

France better start rebuilding now from the ground up so that they have a decent side in 20 years.
It takes years to build up a solid base from which you build your international team. It doesn't happen overnight.

What duty do the Catalans club have to produce players for the French national side?
Yes, France's player pool needs to improve massively, but it's going to take more than 20 players from the Catalans to do it. Look at NZ, hardly any of their first choice team come from the Warriors.
Positively, more French juniors seem to signing for English clubs, which is what's needed.

Why did the French side have so many players missing?

Casty, Duport and Yaha were definitely injured.

Seven of the other eight missing were suspicious absences, possibly instructed by their paymaster Bernard Guasch not to play.

Interesting that both Hull KR players were there, along with Morgan Escare (whom Guasch has covered by Krisnan Inu).

Only £10 to get in and only 8k. Leeds charge full whack and get 20k. We need to bring back longer kiwi and kangaroo tours.

That's right. Not a court of law. I'm trying to figure out whether anyone caught the game.

Quote ="Wigg'n"Are there even any highlights yet? It's like the game happened in another dimension or something.'" Found them https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgxxCtQXrB8

Quote ="Wigg'n"Are there even any highlights yet? It's like the game happened in another dimension or something.'" Found them https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgxxCtQXrB8

Ah ok, so that makes it right then.

One of the reasons this planet is so messed up is because of 'tit for tat' revenge behaviour.

If someone is racist, stereotypical or rude to you it does not mean you need to reply with an equally insulting remark.

As I said, the fact that you and another person have tried to justify calling French people 'Frogs' goes to show just how far back in the past some RL fans are living.

And you wonder why RL cannot get sponsorship or TV coverage like Rugby Union?

its funny to see the arrogant hypocrisy of some fans. We have fans of teams who dont even have an academy criticising Les Catalans for not supporting an entire national side.

Fans who argue vociferously that Les Catalans (and toulouse) must operate in a promotion and relegation environment despite the additional problems that would cause those sides, but those teams are still expected to do something most english clubs fail to do and prioritise youth development.

We have fans of a country who decided to put on an untelevised, barely attended, low profile warm up game held in a small stadium in a small town in the north of England that couldnt sell out despite charging a piece of gum and a button for entry, wondering why the french arent bending over backwards to beat us.

Anyway. some very slick handling there which was good to see. Bateman, Williams and Widdop all looked great.

So was it the chicken or the egg? , did France not bother because of the lack of respect with regards the venue and marketing, or a lack of respect shown by France to International RL ?

Got in after 10 minutes, game already over, left after an hour, wont be going again, if they do it again I'd suggest Whitebank stadium Oldham

we have a clear answer to that.

England v France in small stadiums

England 84-4 France at Leigh, attendance 8k
England 48-4 france at Salford, attendance 8k
England 44-6 france at Craven Park, attendance 7k
England 60-6 France at Leigh, attendance 8k

In a game treated like a proper international

England 34-6 france at Wigan, 22k
France 18-32 England Avignon 17k
England 34-12 France Keepmoat, 11k

Not conclusive, if the French want a game in France, then organise it, , a couple of 1,000 more in Doncaster, when was that Wigan game played?

French RL looks in a bigger mess than over here, they look more divided and parocial than us, but to proioritise matches against Scotland,Wales, Ireland than England ( if thats what they did? ) is poor

I doubt we can solve their issues any more than the Aussies could do ours, but if you want to blame the RFL for taking a game to a top quality RL stadium for both fans not turning up and a pathetic French performance , fine your perogative

what use is this game to them? its a warm up game. We arent treating it like its important, why would they? Its a mindset that thinks they should be grateful we have deigned to allow them on the same turf as us.

The french can't organise a game on their own. But if you want to absolve the RFL from the mess THEY organised yesterday because it was held at Leigh go ahead, the results are there for everyone to see.

Can the RFL organise a game on their own? , pointless point, the French can invite/request we play over there

They selected a top qualty stadium in the heartlands, a cheap cost given we have 3 games against a better ranked opponent in the next few weeks, so what do they want, us to use the Kiwis as warm up for them?

Better order Wembly for next year

The Wigan one was the World Cup QF 2013 and the Doncaster one a 4 Nations game of 2009.

Hardly properly comparable to a friendly on the eve of a 3 test series vs the Kiwis (including a trip down to London for game 2)

All Smokey has shown is that a WC QF will sell better than a friendly......shock horror.