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Catalans Dragons
Image:LesCatalansdragonslogo.png
Club information
Full name Perpignan Dragons Rugby League
Football Club - Catalans Dragons
Nickname(s) The Dragons / The Catalans
Ground Stade Gilbert Brutus,
Rue Terrus, Perpignan
(Capacity 12,000[1])
Current
Chairman Flag of France Bernard Guasch
Coach Flag of Australia Michael Potter
Captain Flag of France Grégory Mounis
League Super League
History
Founded 2001

The Catalans Dragons (sometimes referred to as Les Catalans, Les Cats or the Dragons) are a professional rugby league club based in Perpignan, France. Stade Gilbert Brutus is a Rugby league Stadium located in Perpignan, in the South of France. Perpignan ( French: Perpignan, pɛʀpiɲɑ̃ Catalan Perpinyà,) is a commune and the Préfecture (administrative Bernard Guasch (born in France) is the current CEO of the Super League and French Rugby League Championship team the Catalans Dragons and has Michael "Mick" Potter (born 24 September 1963 in Parramatta New South Wales) is an Australian former professional Rugby league Grégory Mounis (born January 18 1985 in France) is a Rugby league player for Catalans Dragons in the European Super League History See also History of rugby league The grass roots of rugby league can be traced to early football history, through the playing of ball games A club is an association of people united by a common interest or goal Perpignan ( French: Perpignan, pɛʀpiɲɑ̃ Catalan Perpinyà,) is a commune and the Préfecture (administrative This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. They play in both the European Super League and the French Elite One Championship competitions and even though the club was only recently formed they have to date achieved a championship title in 2005 and two consecutive Lord Derby Cups in 2004 and 2005. The Elite One Championship (French Le Championnat de France Elite) is the top-tiered exclusively French, Rugby league domestic competition Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Lord Derby Cup (French Trophée Lord Derby also known as French Rugby à XIII Cup is the premier knock-out competition for the sport of Rugby league in France "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "

The club was founded in 2001 in Perpignan, France, under the name "Union Treiziste Catalane"; following the merger of the successful XIII Catalan club and close neighbours Saint Estève. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. XIII Catalan were a French Rugby league team from Perpignan, in the Catalan Pyrénées-Orientales region of France AS Saint Estève were a French Rugby league team from Perpignan, in the Catalan Pyrenées-Orientales region of France They were granted admission into the European Super League, the highest tier of professional rugby league in Europe, in 2006. Engage Super League XI is the official name for the year 2006 's Super League season in the sport of Rugby league in Europe

Contents

History

The club was formed in 2000 as Union Treiziste Catalane, from a merger of the famous XIII Catalan and St Estève clubs, and they continue to play in the French Championship under this name, which is often abbreviated to UTC. XIII Catalan were a French Rugby league team from Perpignan, in the Catalan Pyrénées-Orientales region of France AS Saint Estève were a French Rugby league team from Perpignan, in the Catalan Pyrenées-Orientales region of France The French rugby league championship ( Le Championnat de France de Rugby à XIII) has been the major Rugby league tournament for semi-professional and professional XIII Catalan were founded in 1935, and thus were founding members of the French rugby league championship. AS Saint Estève were founded in 1965. Both teams were from Perpignan, in the Catalan region of France. Different meanings Països Catalans is a polysemic expression and so it has different meanings depending on the context They were selected ahead of Toulouse and Villeneuve to enter the Super League in 2006. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. It is hoped that they will form the backbone of the national team. The France national rugby league team represent France in international Rugby league tournaments The club set its target that 75% of the players will be qualified to play for France. The France national rugby league team represent France in international Rugby league tournaments This will not be the first time that a French side has played in the Super League, though the first attempt, Paris Saint Germain, lasted only two seasons. Foundation The club was created as an attempt to give the new Super League a European dimension and the assumption was that the larger population of the capital city and its Part of Paris' problem was that both codes of rugby have their stronghold in the south of France, whilst the north of France is more soccer friendly. Rugby football (usually just " rugby " may refer to a number of sports through history descended from a common form of Football developed at Rugby School Another problem was that their players were on loan from French league clubs and had to play for their own clubs as well.

To ensure that Catalans Dragons had the best French players available to them the French rugby league decided that they could sign players from other French clubs without paying a transfer fee. They were also been promised that they will not be relegated from the Super League for three years even if they finish bottom. Many believe that Catalans Dragons will be joined by other French clubs in the Super League though the whole idea of expanding into France is not without its critics among supporters of British rugby league clubs. Catalans Dragons won their first ever Super League match 38-30 against Wigan Warriors on Saturday 11th February 2006 at Stade Aimé Giral. Wigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club is a professional Rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. Stade Aimé Giral is a multi-use Stadium in Perpignan, France. The club experienced a difficult first season in Super League with many of the less experienced French players running out of steam towards the end of a gruelling campaign. They eventually finished bottom of the table, but due to their 3-year exemption from relegation it was 11th-placed Castleford who dropped down to National League One.

2007 saw strong recruitment by new coach Mick Potter with a string of high-profile signings from Australia including Clint Greenshields, Casey McGuire, Jason Croker and Aaron Gorrell, all seasoned NRL campaigners. Gorrell, a goalkicking hooker, in particular impressed but unfortunately sustained a bad knee injury in February's win over Leeds and missed the rest of the season. On 10 March 2007 it was announced Newcastle Knights hooker Luke Quigley would cover Gorrell's absence for the remainder of the campaign. Luke Quigley (born 20 July, 1981) was an Australian Rugby league reserve grade player who has previously played five seasons for the Newcastle Young stars Dimitri Pelo and Vincent Duport in the backs have impressed, and show real promise for the future and for young talent in France in general. Recent addition to the fold at the Catalan Dragons is former Canberra Raiders, Melbourne Storm and Parramatta Eels Halfback Andrew McFadden who is now their Assistant Coach. Andrew said upon signing with the Dragons that he was doing it for his cousin, former prop Joe McCarthy, who was his "shining light".

On July 29, 2007, the Dragons became the first French side and first non-English side to reach the final of the Challenge Cup after beating Wigan Warriors 37-24 in the semi final. Events 1014 - Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Challenge Cup (as of 2008 known as the Carnegie Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons is a knockout cup competition for Rugby league clubs across Europe Wigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club is a professional Rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. Catalans lost the 2007 Challenge Cup Final with St Helens at Wembley Stadium on August 25th 2007. The Carnegie Challenge Cup is the most prestigious knock-out competition in the world of Rugby League Wembley Stadium is a Stadium in Wembley, located in the London Borough of Brent in London, England. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. They also managed to finish the 2007 season off the bottom of the table, ending the season in 10th place. Engage Super League XII is the official name for the year 2007 's Super League season in the sport of Rugby league.

2008 Squad

Although other players may play for the Catalans Dragons during the year, all Super League clubs are required to select a top tier First Grade squad at the beginning of the season. Below is the list submitted for 2008. All players are ordered by their jersey number. As of 5 March 2008 Super League Games Only

Nationality Squad No Player Position App Tries Goals DG Points
Flag of Australia 1 Clint Greenshields Fullback 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of Australia / Flag of France / Flag of Ireland 2 Justin Murphy Winger 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of Australia 3 John Wilson Centre 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of Australia 4 Adam Mogg Centre 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of France 5 Dimitri Pelo Winger 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of France 6 Thomas Bosc Stand Off 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of Australia 7 Casey McGuire Scrum Half 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of France 8 David Ferriol Prop 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of Australia 9 Aaron Gorrell Hooker 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of France 10 Jérôme Guisset Prop 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of France 11 Sébastien Raguin Second Row 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of Australia 12 Jason Croker Second Row 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of France 13 Gregory Mounis Loose Forward 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of Australia 14 Dane Carlaw Prop 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of France 15 Mathieu Griffi Prop 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of France 16 Olivier Elima Second Row 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of France 17 Cyril Gossard Second Row 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of France 18 Vincent Duport Centre 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of New Zealand 19 Alex Chan Prop 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of New Zealand / Flag of France 20 Kane Bentley Hooker 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of New Zealand / Flag of France 21 Andrew Bentley Loose Forward 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of France 22 Jamal Fakir Prop 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of France 23 Cyril Stacul Winger 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of France 24 Remi Casty Prop 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of France 25 Younes Khattabi Centre 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of France 26 Jean Philippe Baile Winger 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of France 27 Florian Quintilla Hooker 0 0 0 0 0
Flag of France 28 Julien Touxagas Second Row 0 0 0 0 0


2008 Signings/Transfers

Gains

2008 Signings/Transfers
Player Previous Club Years Signed Until the End of
Flag of AustraliaDane Carlaw Brisbane Broncos  ? 200?
Flag of FranceOlivier Elima Wakefield Trinity Wildcats  ? 200?
Flag of FranceJean Philippe Baile  ?  ? 200?
Flag of FranceFlorian Quintilla  ?  ? 200?

Losses

Losses
Player Signed for When left
Flag of New Zealand Stacey Jones Retired September 2007
Flag of France Adel Fellous Toulouse Olympique October 2007
Flag of New Zealand Luke Quigley October 2007
Flag of France Lionel Teixido SC Albi October 2007
Flag of France Julien Touxagas UTC (came back due to injuries) October 2007
Flag of France David Berthezene UTC October 2007

Honours

2005
2004-04, 2004-05

Footnotes

  1. ^ Catalans Q&A

References

External links

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