Catalans Dragons will be looking to sign around 15 players for next season as they turn over a new leaf and start fresh under Joel Tomkins. That’s according to club president Bernard Guasch following the permanent appointment of Tomkins, who has been in charge on an interim basis since Steve McNamara’s sacking in May.
In that time, Tomkins has led the club to just one win, but he’ll be given the time he needs to breathe some life into the Dragons and he’ll have plenty of fresh blood to work with, too. The Dragons are preparing to bid farewell to a raft of players, with at least 14 currently off contract at the end of the season.
The likes of Sam Tomkins and Tevita Pangai Jr will be leaving the club, with their futures confirmed, while star names such as Elliott Whitehead, Reimis Smith, Tariq Sims and Alrix Da Costa are also up at the end of the current campaign.
Guasch is more than aware of the situation and has promised a huge squad turnover ahead of 2026.
The president has confirmed that Julian Bousquet has penned a new deal and France international Ugo Tison, who has spent time in the Queensland Cup with Wynnum Manly Seagulls, will be returning to the club. The club have also announced the signing of Toby Sexton from Canterbury Bulldogs.
However, it seems Catalans will be very active in the recruitment market over the coming months and a raft of those signings could come from down under.
“Inevitably, since between 13 and 14 players are at the end of their contracts,” Guasch said, per L’Independant. “A page is turning.
“We’re starting from scratch. Very clean indeed. We have to look for around 15 players. The public has been complaining about the game being played for two or three years. Well, we’re starting a new cycle.
“I can tell you that Julian Bousquet, an extraordinary guy, has re-signed for a year. That Ugo Tison is also returning to the expanded group of 30 players.”
He added: “This difficult season must represent an opportunity to change methods. Until now, we recruited experienced players aged 30-35, names, in other words, and we were only allowed seven quotas of foreigners.
“Now, we have 10 and now, we will prioritize young, ambitious players, aged 20-25, who may only have around 40 NRL matches. But fresh, technical players, who are fast. Very fast, even because the XIII has changed.
“Twenty years ago, we were looking for robustness, physicality. I want us to find new Dureaus, Greenshields… With Alex Chan and Neil McIlroy, we have the network.”
Catalans Dragons chief to travel to Wigan
Catalans travel to Wigan on Friday night, with the Dragons keen to shake off their home defeat to Hull KR last time out and pile the misery on Wigan, who have three of their last five and find themselves short on numbers.
Having formalised Tomkins’ position for next season and beyond, Friday is the start of a new chapter for the Perpignan outfit and Guasch will be making the journey to the north west of England to speak to his players.
“I’m going there because I want to talk to the players,” Guasch said. “Remind them of their duties, in terms of their attitudes and their performances on the pitch. Because at the end of each month, we, the directors, respect our commitments. Let these big players with their long CVs take their responsibilities.”
