Catalans Dragons CEO Bernard Guasch has responded to suggestions that his side will have to pay for the travel of English Super League sides from the 2025 season onwards.
This was revealed by RFL Commercial Director Rhodri Jones on The League Express podcast, where he said:
“The travel will change in terms of going out to Catalans and who pays for the travel in 2025. The Dragons will pick up that bill now.”
In response, Guasch told French publication L’Independant: “It’s been going on for ten years, that the problem exists.
“Every year, we tell the leaders [RFL] that French television stations are going to support us, but they don’t see anything coming, and we don’t either.”
“The English, and I understand them, have had enough of us not putting anything in the pot.
“The channel l’Equipe is not putting in any money this season and those in charge of the Federation have decided to play the game. The ball is in our court.”
Catalans Dragons remain only French team in Super League
Toulouse had to pay for opponents’ travel costs during their sole season in Super League, when they finished rock-bottom on just ten points, but they were relegated immediately leaving Catalans Dragons as the sole French side in the competition.
Guasch noted the effect of Toulouse’s financial burden: “We are going to defend ourselves as best we can, hoping that the SuperLeague+ channel will have more and more French subscribers.
“It is important for us that our supporters use this platform.
“We have to find a solution because it will handicap us financially, as it handicapped Toulouse during their year in the Super League.
“They could not have a competitive team spending so much money to pay for their opponents’ travel.”
Toulouse were relegated after just one season, despite calls to make them exempt from relegation, similarly to what the RFL allowed Catalans to benefit from in their first three years in Super League.
Whether Catalans Dragons would be able to keep up their success from the last few years, being both Challenge Cup finalists and Grand Finalists, is unclear.
Els Dracs supporters will be hoping the situation is clarified in the coming weeks.
Jaybs
March 7, 2024 at 8:58 am
Simple! if, this is the way The RFL want to treat Catalan, then travel must be basic, and any overnight stay, basic hotel. Do London Broncos get payments to travel to the North of England constantly? Club must be treated the same in Super League.