Former Catalans Dragons boss Steve McNamara has accused the RFL of trying to ‘choke out’ the French sides in defence of rugby league in the country.
McNamara has been part of Catalans’ success in recent years, including a Challenge Cup victory and two Grand Final appearances, since his arrival in 2016.
Despite being officially sacked last month, he hadn’t been at the club since mid-May, but was very complimentary of French rugby league.
In a preview from The Bench podcast from next week, RFL chairman Nigel Wood questioned how the French clubs are operating within the game, and McNamara was in disagreement with those comments.
Former Catalans Dragons boss on the club’s contribution to Super League
Speaking on the Sky Sport broadcast before the Wakefield Trinity and Leeds Rhinos game, McNamara said: “I’ll be the biggest supporter of French rugby league until the day I die. How can one team in Super League be responsible for the whole of Super League? It’s like Wakefield, saying they’re on their own to produce a great England team.
“TV revenue, we had zero to start with, but look at the English game, it’s come from £40million down to £20million.
“Fan experience, wow. Come on, they’re just trying to choke them out. It’s as simple as that. You’ve got to be in the Challenge Cup, paying for the flights and taking gate revenues off the team, I’m not sure how much further they can go.”
Those thoughts were echoed by Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin, who was keen to point out the development of the French national side in recent years.
With the recent debate over how many teams will be in Super League from 2026 and beyond, it’s something that everyone from those running the game to the fans in the grounds has an opinion on.
However, the future of French rugby league will rely heavily on the success of both Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique.
