IMG attend Catalans Dragons clash amid questions over French clubs' future

[Wiganer Ted]

Davy needs to remind people what his club bring to SL and their recent trophy haul.
Then tell us all how they will go on come the day he's not around to fund them.

[ian.birchall]

The Dragons, Challenge Cup and League Leaders' Shield winners, have some detractor.

IMG officials spent last weekend in Perpignan getting a feel for French rugby league. Key personnel from rugby league's new strategic partner were in attendance for the Dragons' clash with Leeds Rhinos and spent time with members of the club hierarchy.

The future of French clubs in the RFL league structure has been a big talking point since Catalans coach Steve McNamara hit out at Huddersfield Giants, alleging they had said in meetings with IMG that they brought nothing to the game. At the time, McNamara said: "There is talk this week of Huddersfield saying French teams give nothing to the game in talks with IMG and that French teams should not be in the Super League competition, which is an absolute disgrace.

What the Catalans have brought to this competition in 16, 17 seasons is on a par with what some of those clubs have brought in 100 years. It's a terrible attitude towards our game and one aspect of the disrespect their club has shown us over a number of times recently, their opinion and attitude towards expansion and French teams in the competition.

Catalans have enjoyed success in recent years, winning the Challenge Cup in 2019 and the League Leaders' Shield in 2021. They reached the Grand Final for the first time last season and finished fourth in Super League this term.

But it's fair to say there are naysayers, with some citing the lack of away supporters and commercial benefits having French clubs in Super League brings for the rest of the sport.

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugb ... h-24980247

The Giants and Ed Davey in particular seem to be forgetting that Cats play in Superleague without sharing the Sky TV money so that would be a £million less shared by the other 11 clubs if they were replaced by teams such as Featherstone. When I filled in the IMG online form on the Web I saw the interest in having 2 strong French sides in the 'European' Superleague.

catalans get central funding I read the other week

+I am still not sure about that. They have no TV money and this allows them not to have a salary cap which must be right looking at their fully fit first team?

[jaws1]

Catalans negotiate their own tv rights other than SKY

[josie andrews]

Catalans negotiate their own tv rights other than SKY

Don’t think they have been shown on French TV this season! Don’t think they had a deal

[jaws1]

Catalans negotiate their own tv rights other than SKY

Don’t think they have been shown on French TV this season! Don’t think they had a deal

http://www.catalansdragons.com/en/artic ... -in-2022/
Super League, Catalans Dragons and beIN SPORTS FRANCE are pleased to announce a new broadcast agreement to cover the 2022 Betfred Super League.

The deal covers 9 of the 13 Catalans Dragons home games as well as a number of additional Super League fixtures, including the Play-Offs and the Grand Final. Dragons games played in the UK and broadcast on Sky Sports are also part of the deal. As a result, the Dragons' 2022 season opener against St Helens at Totally Wicked Stadium, scheduled for Thursday February 10, will be broadcast live on beIN SPORTS. During this opening round, beIN SPORTS will also broadcast live the first-ever Toulouse Olympique game (against Huddersfield) on Saturday February 12.

Super League can also confirm that Sky Sports will broadcast Catalans first two home games of the season when the Dragons take on Wakefield Trinity on Saturday 19 February and then Wigan Warriors on Saturday 12 March.

On the announcement Ken Davy, Super League chairman, said ‘On the back of a fantastic 2021 season for Catalans Dragons it is great that we can reach an agreement that will see beIN SPORTS broadcast so many games from France. The fantastic scenes in Perpignan when the Dragons defeated Hull KR in the semi-final to make the 2021 Grand Final will live long in the memory.’

Catalans Dragons Chairman Bernard Guasch said ‘I’m delighted to have reached this agreement with beIN SPORTS, which remains the Rugby League channel in France. This is a great news for our fans but also our sponsors who will be benefit from the club's media exposure.’

Martin AURENCHE, VP Sports Content Acquisitions of beIN MEDIA GROUP : “We are delighted to have extended our agreement which will allow our Rugby fans to follow the best games from the Super League. All our viewers have enjoyed the fantastic performance of the Catalans Dragons last year and we are looking forward to seeing the first matches live on our channels.

Catalans Dragons Home Fixtures 2022 TV Schedule on beIN SPORTS:

Dragons v Wakefield (19/02)
Dragons v Wigan (12/03)
Dragons v Hull KR (18/03)
Dragons v Toulouse (14/04)
Dragons v Castleford (29/04)
Dragons v Warrington (14/05)
Dragons v Hull FC (11/06)
Dragons v St Helens (02/07)
Dragons v Leeds (29/08)