en.catalansdragons.com/index.php ... 06-11_2823

en.catalansdragons.com/index.php ... 06-11_2823

Good on him.a decent enough player who will do fine in the nrl.

A great move by Remi Casty, and a wise choice by his former and soon to be again coach.

It will give recognition in Australia to the existence of rugby league in France.

My prediction is that the next Frenchmen to join the NRL (in 2015) will be Catalans' hooker Eloi Pelissier and full back Morgan Escare.

I think he'll go really well. He's developed so much in the last 2 or 3 years and is one of the best props in the league.

Is he the first proper Frenchman to go to the NRL since the Dragons joined Super League? A few Aussie-Dragons are out there but is he the first French?

Good on him. Plays the game tough and I've always liked his style. Should go well.

Benjamin Garcia from Avignon signed for Broncos a few months ago but I don't know if he already played a first grade game. So yes, Remi Casty is the first professionnal proper Frenchman to go to the NRL.

EDIT : Oops, Jerome Guisset played for Canberra Raiders long time ago (in 1999). So Remi is no longer the first frenchman to play in the NRL!

Thanks, Guisset was before the Dragons were in Super League so it's the first development there. Escare seems to be the obvious candidate to be the next to go out there, maybe Bosc as well?

Isn't Dimitri Pelo, now at Canberra, a 'proper' Frenchman?

Technically since he's from New Caledonia, but he came through the ranks in Australia before joining Catalans.

Like someone else said, Ben Garcia is a regular in the Brisbane U20s side so Casty might not be the only Frenchman in the NRL next year. Tony Gigot is also playing for Cronulla Sharks' reserve grade, in the same team as Brett Finch. It's funny that no English teams will go anywhere near these players.

Eric Anselme and a few other young lads went over to Australia, not sure if any ever made it to 1st grade.

Jacques Moliner played for Penrith in late 80's I think.

Good news for French rugby league.

I believe they're treated as Non-Federation, if French players were treated equally to British ones, I suspect that more would be spread around the other teams.

I'm pretty sure this is no longer the case after the fiasco with Rinaldi at London.

Casty's a good prop, he'll go well.
Another european player getting the big NRL payday.

Great move for him but is there evidence he will be paid anymore than if he was in SL?

Also BBC article states that Jason Baitieri played for the Roosters as well, he's French isn't he?

Jason Baitieri was born in France, spent part of his childhood there, has a French mother and an Australian father of Italian ancestry (Tas, the head of international development for the ARL). However he spent more of his life in Australia before he joined Catalans, and he played one Roosters NRL game (the rest were under 20s or NSW Cup) before he moved back to France. So he is probably officially bi-national.

Jason speaks flawless French with a genuine French accent, as you would expect, as well as Aussie accented English, which is why he is such a good link between Catalans' French players and the Antipodean imports. Plus he is a very good player. Which is why Catalans don't want to lose him.

Great for the game.

Anyone know if there's any Americans with the potential to break into first grade over there? Read a few stories over the years about select Americans playing their trade in Aus, but then never hear anything after that.

Trent Robinson knows exactly what he's getting and Casty must fit their squad for next year.

Clint Newton was classed as American as he was born there but I believe he moved to Australia at a young age.

No, the game in the USA is in disarray at the moment with the USARL/AMNRL split and a lack of clear leadership on either side really hampering development.

Undoubtedly there are hundreds if not thousands of American athletes who could be standout players, but sadly most of them probably have no idea that RL exists.

Always enjoyed watching Remi Casty even when he was murdering us (i.e. every game being a Salford supporter!), good for the status of French RL, I hope he does well.

Someone earlier mentioned Jerome Guisset - I remember listening to a commentary on Radio Manchester a few years back when the unreconstructed Lancashire presenter (Jack Deardon I think) referred to him all through the game as Jerry Gusset !