If you can’t wait for the return of Super League or the NRL, do yourself a favour and check out the Elite division in France
By Gavin Willacy for No Helmets Required
Super League has been delayed until at least late March and the NRL is not kicking off until 11 March, but at least rugby league fans have some live action to watch this winter. With
Catalan Dragons and Toulouse Olympique still in some jeopardy due to the French government’s decision to prevent their Top 14 rugby union teams from crossing the channel for European competition, the most French rugby league we may see this year is the domestic Elite Championship.
Like last season, regional channel Vià Occitanie is broadcasting one live match each weekend this winter, with the games available not only on TV in
France but also worldwide via their online stream. There are several familiar names in action: former Leeds stalwart Anthony Mullally is now playing for Carcassonne, with his ponytail and gawky gait intact; the shorts of former Wigan prop Eddy Pettybourne are tighter than ever at Villeneuve; Con Mika and John Boudebza, who both played for Hull Kingston Rovers, are also in the Elite; and the division is home to a load of former Catalan Dragons, from Mikael Simon to Lucas Albert.