Rugby League star in talks to make big code switch

One of the most dominant players in Super League so far in 2025 is in talks to make a code switch at the end of the season and leave rugby league.

That’s according to The Daily Telegraph who have reported that Catalans Dragons star Tevita Pangai Jr, who is off-contract at the end of the current season, is considering a switch to rugby union.

Pangai Jr has been known to switch sports previously, never mind codes, with the 29-year-old previously calling time on his NRL career to instead pursue a career in boxing.

That switch ended prematurely when he began training and signed with the Dolphins last summer, before then signing a one-year deal with Catalans in the Super League.

Despite the slow start that Catalans have had as a team, Pangai Jr has already made an immense impact individually with the former State of Origin man turning plenty of heads with his performances.

Recent reports indicated that he was back on the NRL’s radar but the player has now confirmed his interest in crossing over to the 15-man code.

Off-contract star in talks to make rugby league to rugby union switch

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, the forward confirmed that he’s yet to discuss a possible NRL return but that his agent is in talks with French rugby union clubs.

The Super League man confirmed: “I haven’t had any talks to come back to the NRL. I’ve got Laurent as my agent and he is in talks with a couple of French rugby clubs. Myself and my family are enjoying life at Catalans and Europe. We are in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup and my full focus is on that.”

Catalans will head to face Super League leaders Hull KR in the Challenge Cup in early May but before then, Les Dracs have a string of games to try and set their season alight – starting with Huddersfield Giants this weekend.

It’s no surprise to see Pangai Jr considering rugby union given his tendency to swap sports and just how dominant you would expect him to be in the sport given his powerful running style and ability to offload, with the ex-NRL man leading Super League alongside Herman Ese’ese in the second metric.