Catalans Dragons have confirmed Super League trio Ugo Tison, Tanguy Zenon and Loan Castano will all remain at the club for the 2024 season.
The club announced their retention as part of their squad number announcement. Tison is impressively number 18 whilst Tanguy Zenon has moved to number 19.
Loan Castano is the number 25 as all three look to provide crucial depth for the Dragons in 2024.
Zenon is perhaps the most notable of all three after his impressive stint at Hull KR last year after the sudden retirement of Lachlan Coote and before the club were able to secure the services of Jack Walker for the rest of the season.
Zenon would notch a try during his brief stint at the club as he played a small but crucial role in them finishing fourth alongside Fouad Yaha.
Super League star Tom Johnstone’s future
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com – 12/05/2023 – Rugby League – Betfred Super League Round 12 – Castleford Tigers v Catalans Dragons – the Mend A Hose Jungle, Castleford, England – Castleford’s Tom Johnstone scores a diving try against Castleford.
Tom Johnstone was also named in the squad but continues to wear number 24 in 2024 and has not been moved up to either staring jersey.
At Catalans more than any other club this means very little. In the past the likes of Todd Carney, Siua Taukeiaho, Tyrone May and even Sam Tomkins haven’t held starting jerseys.
Tomkins held the number 29 shirt for his five year stint at the club in which he was probably the first name on the teamsheet every week.
This year Jordan Abdull has been given the number 27 shirt in another indicator of the Dragons’ interesting use of squad numbers.
Nonetheless, with Johnstone still at 24, it highlights the depth Catalans have on the wing in the shape of former Wigan Warriors star Tom Davies as well as Fouad Yaha who has scored a record breaking number of tries for the club.
Yaha spent time on loan with Zenon at Hull KR last year with Johnstone on the wing and you would expect him to be third choice again in 2024 but him staying at the club highlights the reports that Johnstone could leave the club at the end of 2024 with Wakefield Trinity interested.
Daryl Powell even hinted at a move to sign him after their Boxing Day clash with Leeds Rhinos.
Catalans Dragons squad
Hull Kingston Rovers v St Helens RFC Betfred Super League 14/04/2023. Hull Kingston Rovers half back Jordan Abdull 7 with hands on hips and gumshield out during the Betfred Super League match between Hull Kingston Rovers and St Helens RFC at the Sewell Group Craven Park Stadium, Hull, United Kingdom on 14 April 2023. Hull Sewell Group Craven Park Stadium Yorkshire United Kingdom Editorial use only , Copyright: xMickxAtkinsx PSI-17259-0034
Six new signings are included in the 2024 Catalans Dragons squad. Jayden Nikorima will wear the number 6, Théo Fages takes the number 7 and Tariq Sims the number 11. Bayley Sironen has been given the number 15, Chris Satae the number 20. As aforementioned, Jordan Abdull takes on the number 27 shirt after his move from Hull KR.
The squad in full is:
1. Arthur Mourgue
2. Tom Davies
3. Arthur Romano
4. Matthieu Laguerre
5. Fouad Yaha
6. Jayden Nikorama
7. Théo Fages
8. Mike McMeeken
9. Micky McIlorum
10. Julian Bousquet
11. Tariq Sims
12. Paul Séguier
13. Benjamin Garcia
14. Alrix Da Costa
15. Bayley Sironen
16. Romain Navarrete
17. César Rougé
18. Ugo Tison
19. Tanguy Zenon
20. Chris Satae
21. Matt Ikuvalu
22. Siua Taukeiaho
23. Jordan Dezaria
24. Tom Johnstone
25. Loan Castano
26. Manu Ma’u
27. Jordan Abdull
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