Hull KR have reportedly agreed to sign one of Super League’s star full-backs for the 2026 season in a major transfer coup.
The Robins have reportedly secured a deal with Catalans Dragons star Arthur Mourgue, one of the French club’s premier talents who can play in both the halves or at full-back.
News of the deal was first reported in France by L’Independant with the outlet reporting that the 25-year-old has told Catalans of his intent to leave at the end of his current contract, which expires at the end of the season.
Les Dracs have a long list of players without a deal beyond the current season and whilst there is some serious talent on there such as Theo Fages, Tevita Pangai Junior and Alrix Da Costa, none are the sort of players who a club could build a team around such as Mourgue.
The 25-year-old has played 99 games for Les Dracs with 94 coming in Super League, the majority of which were at full-back.
Hull KR swoop to sign star full-back Arthur Mourgue
Credit: Rémi Vignaud/Catalans Dragons/SWpix.com
His reported exit, as told by L’Independant would be a major blow for Catalans with the early nature of this reported move something that could have only happened this season.
New RFL rules over when clubs can begin to contact off-contract players from rival clubs only changed this season with the deadline moving from May 1st all the way forward to December 1st.
As such, it means that Hull KR have not waited long to identify and make contact with the French star who looks to follow in the footsteps of Tom Davies and Micky McIlorum.
Hull KR have Niall Evalds off contract at the end of the 2025 season but they also see Tyrone May’s deal expire, meaning that Mourgue could be drafted in to play either position albeit full-back is the more likely role.
L’Independant quoted Catalans owner Bernard Guasch, who revealed that Mourgue did not even discuss a contract with the French side, as saying: “We didn’t even discuss money. He came to see me to tell me that he wanted to go elsewhere and he had signed with another club.”
It’s quite an extraordinary piece of business by Hull KR who have gone even earlier than they did when announcing their major signing last season. Back in February, the Robins announced that Jared Waerea-Hargreaves would be joining for 2025.
It seems that they’ve already made their major signing for the 2026 season before we’ve even left 2024.
