Latest news with #Perpignan-based
The Irish Sun
23-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Joel Tomkins pledges to end Catalans' ‘retirement home' tag after becoming coach
JOEL Tomkins has vowed to end Catalans' retirement home reputation as he looks to get them back to the top. And the dual-code England international will take bits from coaches he has worked with in union and league. Advertisement 2 Joel Tomkins has promised to look younger for NRL talent after landing the Catalans coaching job Credit: The 38-year-old has been handed the job of replacing Steve McNamara as boss until the end of 2027. Top of his list is turning around the Perpignan-based Dragons, who have spent big and delivered little. A big part of that is switching the way it will target stars from the NRL. Tomkins said: 'The recruitment model moving forward is changing quite a lot, we're looking at the younger generation. Advertisement 'It's quite obvious to see there are a lot of guys who've come from the NRL and are at the end of their careers, looking to play the last couple of years in France then retiring on the back of it. 'We're looking at guys who are still on the upwards slope, who are still climbing, who are coming over with a different mentality. MOST READ IN RUGBY LEAGUE Exclusive Exclusive Exclusive 'They'd want to develop a reputation and either go back to the NRL as an NRL player or stay here long-term. 'The big one is we're avoiding those players who are coming to the end of their careers. We're looking at the other end. Advertisement Most read in Rugby League 'The average age of our top 20 players this year is over 31-years-old – we're looking at bringing that down to 26 or 27. 'You'll see that change over the coming weeks and months.' Tomkins will not have little brother Sam on his staff as he is going into the media after he re-retires at the end of the season. 2 Tomkins ended his own playing career with a stint at the Dragons Credit: Advertisement And after working with big name bosses in his playing days, he will use one trait that unites them all into his coaching career. He added: "I've spent a lot of time thinking about that over the last couple of years. 'I was really lucky to work under some of the top coaches in the world – Michael Maguire and Shaun Wane in league, Mark McCall and Stuart Lancaster in union. 'I also worked under Steve McNamara as a player and a coach and the thing the best coaches had was honesty and integrity. Advertisement 'I'll be honest and upfront with the players. I'll tell them when they're doing well but I won't be afraid of having those awkward conversations when they're not. 'The integrity side means it doesn't matter what someone's being paid or what they've done in their career. You pick your team on who's playing the best rugby – not names or pay packets.'
Scottish Sun
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Joel Tomkins pledges to end Catalans' ‘retirement home' tag after becoming coach
Dragons' new chief promises new attitude when it comes to recruitment OLD OFF Joel Tomkins pledges to end Catalans' 'retirement home' tag after becoming coach Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JOEL Tomkins has vowed to end Catalans' retirement home reputation as he looks to get them back to the top. And the dual-code England international will take bits from coaches he has worked with in union and league. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Joel Tomkins has promised to look younger for NRL talent after landing the Catalans coaching job Credit: The 38-year-old has been handed the job of replacing Steve McNamara as boss until the end of 2027. Top of his list is turning around the Perpignan-based Dragons, who have spent big and delivered little. A big part of that is switching the way it will target stars from the NRL. Tomkins said: 'The recruitment model moving forward is changing quite a lot, we're looking at the younger generation. 'It's quite obvious to see there are a lot of guys who've come from the NRL and are at the end of their careers, looking to play the last couple of years in France then retiring on the back of it. 'We're looking at guys who are still on the upwards slope, who are still climbing, who are coming over with a different mentality. 'They'd want to develop a reputation and either go back to the NRL as an NRL player or stay here long-term. 'The big one is we're avoiding those players who are coming to the end of their careers. We're looking at the other end. 'The average age of our top 20 players this year is over 31-years-old – we're looking at bringing that down to 26 or 27. 'You'll see that change over the coming weeks and months.' Tomkins will not have little brother Sam on his staff as he is going into the media after he re-retires at the end of the season. 2 Tomkins ended his own playing career with a stint at the Dragons Credit: And after working with big name bosses in his playing days, he will use one trait that unites them all into his coaching career. He added: "I've spent a lot of time thinking about that over the last couple of years. 'I was really lucky to work under some of the top coaches in the world – Michael Maguire and Shaun Wane in league, Mark McCall and Stuart Lancaster in union. 'I also worked under Steve McNamara as a player and a coach and the thing the best coaches had was honesty and integrity. 'I'll be honest and upfront with the players. I'll tell them when they're doing well but I won't be afraid of having those awkward conversations when they're not. 'The integrity side means it doesn't matter what someone's being paid or what they've done in their career. You pick your team on who's playing the best rugby – not names or pay packets.'
The Irish Sun
10-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Theo Fages out to send a message to Catalans' critics with Wembley return
THEO Fages would love nothing more than to show Catalans' doubters why they are there by getting to Wembley again. The Dragons' 2018 Challenge Cup triumph was seen as the launchpad of the Perpignan-based club at a new level – reaching the final once more would cement their top table place. 2 Theo f/age is out to give Catalans' critics the perfect answer by helping them back to Wembley Credit: Yet in the background, clubs are questioning whether they should even be there, even though they make a profit, have attracted several big names and produced aa number of young talents. Now Fages hopes to give them the perfect answer by dumping out Super League leaders Hull KR. He said: 'It's a shame that some teams and some clubs want us out, but I'm pretty sure every club loves going to Catalans and enjoying the trip away. 'Many see the negative side of France and it's hard for the club. This year they've got to financially support every travelling club and they've got to pay to play in the cup. 'It's an extra challenge and many want us to fail but if we have success, then we're not bothered really about what people and other clubs think. 'Everyone loves going there, there are sponsorship opportunities for the Super League. There are loads of good things to take. MOST READ IN RUGBY LEAGUE 'We just love being a part of the Super League and doing everything we can to perform and play well. The club has done that for the most part of the 20 years they've been in the Super League.' While many doubt Catalans' involvement, today's opponents have felt the benefit after signing their product Arthur Mourgue. Most read in Rugby League Luckily for Steve McNamara's side, he is cup tied and the next one off the conveyor belt, Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet, is another example of why they should stay. Half back Fages added: 'It's good Arthur can't play but Guillermo's a good kid. He's only 19 and is putting in one good performance after the other. 2 Hull KR's Arthur Mourgue cannot play in this semi-final after featuring for Catalans earlier in the competition Credit: 'He's still learning and he's enjoying it. It's good to see a young French kid playing well. 'It's a big one for us. Obviously, the club had success in 2018 and we just want to replicate that. We're one game away from the final, so we'll be pumped for that. 'It's a semi-final, so the emotion will be there, but we've just got to perform on the day and we'll see about Wembley after that, hopefully. Hull KR are well set up, so it's a good challenge for us, but we'll be ready for it. 'We know it's easy to fix what we did in Super League against Leigh. Just cut the errors out and then we'll be good.'
NZ Herald
23-04-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Warriors v Knights: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad re-signs until end of 2027 NRL season
Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has snubbed offers from overseas to re-sign with the Warriors until the end of the 2027 NRL season. Nicoll-Klokstad was being chased by clubs in the English Super League – particularly the Perpignan-based Catalans Dragons – but has opted to remain with the Warriors for another two years. The London Broncos, who play in England's second-tier championship, were also understood to be in the mix. Warriors coach Andrew Webster is delighted to have retained the 29-year-old for a further two years. 'Keeping Charnze means so much to us,' said Webster. 'He plays such a huge part at our club, and we didn't want him going anywhere else.
