Another Super League club have firmed up their pre-season plans after announcing a friendly against a rival club.
Catalans Dragons have struggled in recent seasons to orchestrate a pre-season schedule that features friendlies on account of the fact that they’re the only French side in Super League.
However, they’ve now confirmed that they will take on French rivals Toulouse Olympique in early February in a game that will serve as a warm-up ahead of the Challenge Cup and Super League campaigns beginning.
Steve McNamara’s side has found it difficult to arrange friendlies across the years with some of the only game time that players in his squad get prior to the Super League season being Les Dracs’ youngsters when they represent St Esteve in the French Elite One competition.
Thankfully, Catalans have been able to secure a pre-season friendly against Championship side Toulouse Olympique with McNamara potentially able to use the game to blood in plenty of his new NRL signings.
Les Dracs have made six signings ahead of the 2025 season with four coming from Down Under in Nick Cotric, Tevita Pangai Junior, Elliott Whitehead and Luke Keary. They have also added Tommy Makinson and Oliver Partington.
Those six players could get their first run out as Catalans players on Saturday, February 1st at the Stade Gilbert Brutus with the game against Toulouse slated for a 3:00 pm kick off.
News of the friendly was confirmed via a club statement which read: “Catalans Dragons will host Toulouse in a pre-season friendly before the launch of the 2025 Season.
“The game will be played on Saturday, February 1st at the Gilbert Brutus Stadium, k.o at 3 pm.”
Whilst Catalans missed the play-offs in 2024, ultimately finishing seventh, Toulouse lost in the Championship Grand Final as they fell to a 36-0 defeat to Wakefield Trinity.
The Olympians then placed 13th on the IMG ladder with a high Grade B not enough for them to force their way into Super League.
𝗟𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘃𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲́𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Les Catalans affronteront le @TOXIII avant de lancer leur saison 2025🇫🇷 https://t.co/pktb0eXZRi
🇬🇧 https://t.co/MLSSXkgWyE pic.twitter.com/Hsa1n7ssKa— Dragons Catalans (@DragonsOfficiel) December 30, 2024
