The Catalan Dragons have officially unveiled the signing of young Tony Gigot for the next two seasons. Formerly of SO Avignong, the young scrum-half spent the last season with Super League club Harlequins in their reserve side.

Despite a good season, his involvement in Super League was hindered by a lack of English which denied him a debut even when Brian McDermott's side was decimated by injuries, especially in July in Perpignan.

International cadets, juniors, sélectionné pour le XIII du président et récemment dans le squad de l'équipe de France, ce joueur de 18 ans décroche donc son premier contrat professionnel avec la franchise catalane.
A junior international, selected for the President's XIII and recently in the French train-on squad, the 18-year old has signed his first professional contract with the Catalan franchise.



I really hate the word franchise, by the way.

i'm sorry to say but ryles is on his way i get nrl news on my telstra mobile

"rylesy and i have spoken and he knows that i'm keen for him to come and i think hes even keener than i am to get him and get another crack at the nrl" said smith.

mason is currently in japan - comfirmed by the roosters and greensheilds is quoted saying ryles has told him hes going back.

the way i read it it doesn't matter if mason leaves anyway.

if i can find the link i'll post them.

MEANWHILE Catalans have signed the Melbourne Storm tackling machine Dallas Johnson for 2010. The 25-year-old loose-forward replaces Jason Ryles, who is joining Sydney Roosters. Read more: www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... z0W5SWdiHp

MEANWHILE Catalans have signed the Melbourne Storm tackling machine Dallas Johnson for 2010. The 25-year-old loose-forward replaces Jason Ryles, who is joining Sydney Roosters. Read more: www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... z0W5SWdiHp

We've all been resigned to that for a wee while now. Stoked with Johnson arriving though.

Sounds good, but is LF the position we need filled? I assume Bird will not be with us next year, but with Mounis and Fakir able to play LF (Mounis' pref position no?) then I do wonder why this is the area to look at.

That's a real shame - surely we need more French talent spread around the English game rather than less.

shocked! hes a top player!

Yet to be confirmed (although I think it will probably happen). The Scum is hardly a reliable source.

I quite agree. While Phil Clarke waffles on about no French debutants in 2009, not one other Super League club gave a debut to a Frenchman either. But, if he's struggling with the language and, probably, the food, then at least there's somewhere for him to go rather than flounder in that there London.

Mounis is your long-term solution at loose forward. I see Johnson as replacing Croker.

Some bad news. I'm hearing that Braith Anasta coming this way is part of the Ryles deal. Hope that ain't true. Can't find any corroborating evidence as yet.

Looking at the squad I think we want
1 top class forward to replace Ryles
1 playmaking or pacey back

Other than that I see no point in dipping into the antipodean pool. There's enough about to try out in France.

I agree. A prop and centre/second row (even if we've got them coming out of our ears even after letting Florian Quintilla go which I think was a mistake) were the stated targets. But when class players become available (Johnson, for instance, not Anasta) then is there a duty to bring them in?

If we have a good French player in that position, why bring in someone better? Obviously it's nice to have the best players available, but we need to prioritise the voids that need to be filled.

Obviously I don't know what our reserves look like. A year ago J-P Baile was making the 19 but not starting for several matches, now he's a first-teamer. If Bartheau does the same and we have a pacey academy player in line then maybe signing this guy is the right move. If however we find ourselves with two good players vying for the same position and no-one to fill a key gap, then we look really stupid.

what about bird

I am keeping everything crossed for Bird staying

Given that he's on his way, does that mean you'll not darken our doors again?

A young Kiwi centre signing is to be announced within 48hrs along with the confirmation of Johnson

48 hours? So it will be on the BBC side in 72 and on the Catalan website sometime next week.

oh.

Meh, guess we won't get MoiMoi now.

Johnson's comments on his move: sportal.com.au/league-news-displ ... torm-81186

Johnson's comments on his move: sportal.com.au/league-news-displ ... torm-81186

Best LF in super league will again be at Catalans next season.

Welcome aboard Dallas article confirms Ryles gone too. On offy too... www.catalansdragons.com/fr/news12112009.php

Welcome aboard Dallas article confirms Ryles gone too. On offy too... www.catalansdragons.com/fr/news12112009.php

It looks likely to be Setaimata Sa from the Roosters