Robinson committed to rebuilding France footy

[TillLindemann]

I think it would be a great thing for the game to have 2 French teams in the Super League. If they could grow the game across Europe it would be incredible.

I went to a Catalans home game this season and the people there were fantastic. I was there supporting Hull FC, and people in the street were stopping you to chat and talk about footy, it was great. I'd love to see the game spread on an international level.

Nice, I would love to go to a match in Perpignan one year.

 

[Crucible]

All very well and good, BUT, now that we arn't buying their Submarines, they might torpedo this deal with Robinson... Hilarious ,,,, We?

 

[frullens]

I thought this was a very interesting article, I'm glad to see French rugby league making a comeback. This year French clubs have topped the table of both Super League, and the Championship. Looks like there will be a second French club in Super league next year.

"Dominance of Catalans and Toulouse drives rugby league to wider audience"

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/aug/13/dominance-of-catalans-and-toulouse-driving-league-to-a-wider-audience

Thanks for sharing @TillLindemann

Really hope the game in France can have a renaissance.
Getting Toulouse in Super League would be huge , create a French derby and attract more attention in France.

I really love what Toulouse have been doing for the last few years, they play at great game and in love their coach.

Hopefully all lays the ground work for a 2025 French world cup!

 

[frullens]

Danny Weilder reporting that James Malone will play for FC Lezignan in the Elite One after retiring for Catalans. Great news for domestic French rugby league

 

[Needaname]

I’m glad Weilder got that scoop!
With coronavirus he must be getting his mail through sea freight.

 

[hank37w]

Sacré bleu!

Shame Scomo sunk their subs.

 

[frullens]

Sacré bleu!

Shame Scomo sunk their subs.

I've always found it funny how they're is the active submarine thread on a west's tigers forum, but with this post you've now cost the loop, finally linking subs and footy together 😁

 

[TillLindemann]

Danny Weilder reporting that James Malone will play for FC Lezignan in the Elite One after retiring for Catalans. Great news for domestic French rugby league

That will be very good for Lezignan. I barracked for the Pia Donkeys a bit, many years ago (from afar). Good to see these small town teams still carrying on, rugby league is an important part of the culture in this area of southern France down near the Spanish border. But they get virtually no media coverage because they don't really have a presence in the big cities like Paris, Marseille or Lyon. Even Perpignan where Catalans are based is smaller than Wollongong. Toulouse getting into Super League would be a real shot in the arm for the sport.

 

[TillLindemann]

Another great article on how much French rugby league is benefiting from Catalans' success.

It's a long article so I won't post it all but here's one quote:

"The expectation on our club last week and our team last week.. it was an inferno," said McNamara.

"The ground was an inferno. We got warned about it before that you'll never have experienced anything like this.

"It was like going to Istanbul and Galatasaray were playing. Absolute chaos."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/58814645

 

[Krammy]

Catalans is the team I follow in ESL. Maloney has also been enormous for them this year. I am really enjoying seeing French Rugby league start to grow again. If Toulouse make it to Superleague, it will have an enormous impact in France. Robinson as director - brilliant.

 

[TillLindemann]

Catalans is the team I follow in ESL. Maloney has also been enormous for them this year. I am really enjoying seeing French Rugby league start to grow again. If Toulouse make it to Superleague, it will have an enormous impact in France. Robinson as director - brilliant.

I'll definitely be cheering for Catalans this weekend. And yeah Toulouse going up would be amazing.

 

[Don Kershane]

Catalans is the team I follow in ESL. Maloney has also been enormous for them this year. I am really enjoying seeing French Rugby league start to grow again. If Toulouse make it to Superleague, it will have an enormous impact in France. Robinson as director - brilliant.

I'll definitely be cheering for Catalans this weekend. And yeah Toulouse going up would be amazing.

The Toulouse Torpilles would be a good name.

 

[happy_tiger]

Lot easier for the ex NRL crims to play for a French ESL side than a Pommy ESL .....

 

[Fraze23]

Congrats to Toulouse winning the million pound game. 2 French sides in the Super League next year will be great for the game! Hopefully this can eventually lead to greater expansion across Europe.

 

[TillLindemann]

Congrats to Toulouse winning the million pound game. 2 French sides in the Super League next year will be great for the game! Hopefully this can eventually lead to greater expansion across Europe.

Yes I'm over the moon for them. Catalans have done surprisingly well not just on the field but off it, however the inclusion of Toulouse will be a real shot in the arm. It creates a French derby, and given Toulouse is a much bigger city than the Dragons home town of Perpignan, it should attract additional media attention and sponsorship.

Also France will be hosting the 2025 world cup. It would be wonderful for our sport if a country the size of France could return to their glory days, when they used to be on par with Australia/NZ/England.

 

[TillLindemann]

Toulouse playing their first ever Super League match this weekend. They'll probably have a tough season, they already had a lean squad and now a few of their players who didn't want to get vaccinated have quit. Still, good to see them there at all, hopefully in time they can be as competitive as Catalans are.