Magique! French Elite 1 Championship club-by-club season preview

The Elite 1 Championship gets underway with the French Magic Weekend in Carcassonne this Saturday and Sunday (Nov 16/17).

We take a look at the 10 teams involved.

 

ALBI

Albi take on Villeneuve in their opener, which kicks-off at 3.30pm (local time) at the Stade Albert Domec on Sunday.

Prop Nicolas Bertolas has returned to the club following a stint with West Wales Raiders, while they have recruited hooker or half back Jack Cook and back-rower Kirk Murphy from Tweed Heads Seagulls in Australia.

Their most familiar name is forward Levy Nzoungou, who was released from the final year of his contract at Hull at the end of the Super League season, and has decided to return to France, where he started his career with Toulouse.

Another player to have tried his hand in the English game is Maxime Garcia, 21, who had a stint at Sheffield Eagles and played for Spain in their World Cup qualifiers against Ireland and Italy recently.

Coach Joris Canton said: “(The goal is) sixth place and make sure that the team plays with a system in place. A lot of things have changed in terms of the game system and players, so it’s not easy, but we have an interesting group with good young people integrated.”

Coach: Joris Canton

Last season: 5th

Notable players: Levy Nzoungou, Maxime Garcia, Nicolas Bianchini

Ins: Cousinie, Cance (both Lescure), Cook, Murphy (both Tweed Heads Seagulls), Grabulos (Limoux), Lardot (Palau), Bianchini (Toulouse), Franco (Carcassonne), Bertalos (West Wales), Nzoungou (Hull)

Outs: Ousty (Villeneuve), Carensac (Realmont), Denis, Ballinger, Ueue, Benhamimed (all free agents), Bienes (Carcassonne), Tabu (Villeneuve), Denis (Lescue).

Albi squad: Carivenc, Thibault Cousinié, Dupuy, Estruga, Garcia, Mazars, Molinier, Rodrigues, Bertolas, Ngouzou, Cook, Murphy, Grabulos, Lardot, Andral, Deburghgraeve, Cancé, Grant, Guinguet, Pedrero, Spina, Franco, Tailhades, Fabre, Lescouzères, Bianchini, Juarez.

AVIGNON

Avignon were champions in 2018 but had a difficult 2018/19 season, finishing in a lowly 8th place.

Captain Olivier Arnaud is desperate to put that right this season and win some silverware.

He told TreizeMondial: “It is a good idea for all fans of the XIII to be able to follow a single day of the championship in the same place, and for the players do not miss his entry as this match is worth four points.

“A successful season for the club would be to finish in the top 4 with this very young group.

“For me, it would be to participate in all matches to coach the young and try to win a new title for the club.”

Coach: Renaud Guigue

Last season: 8th

Notable players: Olivier Arnaud

Ins: Naji (Carpentras), Payne (Mounties), Corona (free), Roupain (Entraigues)

Outs: Melhout (Villeneuve), Nicosia (Salon), Navarro (Entraigues), Tanginoa (stop)

Squad: Andreu, Arnaud, Bissiere, Clement, Comtat, Corona, Delor, Durandal, Emblard, Ganz, Ghanem, Jullien, Mallem, Mendy, Naji, Payne, Pourret, Rey, Romano, Roupain, Arnaud, Avis, Baudy, Demonte, Dorcehantz, Eliazord, Fages, Hugues

CARCASSONNE

Former Toronto and Leigh forward Jake Emmitt will lead the Carcassonne pack in to the 2019/20 season, after opting to leave the English game to try his hand in France.

A couple of others have followed his path, with Arnaud Bartes and Remy Marginet returning to their homelands following stints in the UK.

Other familiar faces in their squad include former Catalans forward Jean-Philippe Baile, fearsome ex-Toulouse prop Bastien Canet and Papua New Guinea winger Garry Lo.

Hooker Matthieu Khedimi told TreizeMondial: “I think it’s great to start on a Magic Weekend, it’s a big party that marks the beginning of the championship!

“To beat Saint-Esteve is not to remain spectator of their game made of speed and displacements of the ball. We must engage in a tough fight, do not give ammunition on which they can create their rhythm and control their package of fronts that serves as a launching pad at their back.”

Coach: Patrick Alberola

Last season: 1st

Notable players: Garry Lo, Jake Emmitt, Jean-Philippe Baile

Ins: Delgado, Artiga (both VARL), Pallares (Toulouse), Bienes (Albi), Malfaz (Beziers XV), Bouregba (Lezignan), Emmitt (Leigh), Pellow (Wests), Benet (Ille)

Outs: Bourrell (Rochdale), Talieu (Pamiers), Cartier (VARL0, Anderson (free), Franco (Albi), Tumusa (Australia), Domergue (Palau).

Squad: Pellow, Franco, Talieu, Escamilla, Lo, Edline, Tost, Bauer, Albert, Benet, Alberola, Pallares, Zava, Domergue, Tetart, Leveille, Anderson, Emmitt, Agullo, Soum, Khedimi, Djalout, Baile, Escamilla, Sabri, Sadaoui, Canet, Costelloe

LEZIGNAN

According to the French press, Lezignan enter the Elite 1 Championship as the joint biggest spenders as champions St Esteve, with a budget of €800,000.

They include a sprinkling of players that have turned out in Super League for Catalans, including pacey full back Damien Cardace, back-rower Cyril Stacul and hooker Charles Bouzinac.

Coach: Nicolas Manessi

Last season: 3rd

Notable players: Sebastien Martins

Ins: Marginet (Newcastle), Bartes (St Esteve), Boudebza (St Esteve), Leapai (Woden Valley Rams), Martins, Noema-Matenga (Burleigh)

Outs: Amila (retired), Gregorius (Brisbane), Bouregba (Carcassonne), Tisseyre (Cronulla), Jamil (Montpellier), Fakir (Palau)

Squad: Albert, Bartusiak, Benausse, Bonneriez, Bousquet, Bouzinac, Cardace, Costes, Ferret, Gouzy, Miloudi, Ors, Sarda, Stacul, Tort, Tovena, Tribillac, Leary, Barthes, Leapai, Marginet, Boudezba, Noema-Matenga.

LIMOUX

Limoux loose Mickael Rouch told TreizeMondial: “We are ready, we can not wait to resume the matches. We trained hard all the offseason for that. For us it does not change a game is a match and you have to win.

“It will be important for us not to rush and be disciplined. The first games are sometimes a bit difficult because we do not have all the automation at the end of the season. We will have to increase the communication during the match.

“The goals that have been predefined are clear: win at least one title for this new season 2019/2020. I think we have the means with the quality of the group.”

Coach: Maxime Greseque

Last season: 4th

Notable players: Zac Santo, Mickael Rouch

Ins: Santo, Nona (both Townsville), Murphy (North Sydney), Flovie (Palau), Bourrel (Rochdale)

Out: Murcia (retired), Teixido (unattached), Pena (Pia), Lasvenes (Villeneuve), Atba (Palau)

Squad: Barbaza, Belmaaziz, Beteille, Garrouste, Gonzalez-Trique, Lasvenes, Mayans, Mickaelzyk, Mingaud, Murcia, Peault, Puso, Rouch, Teixido, Torreilles, Torres, Vergniol, Yesa, Stig, Loko, Noki, Santo, Murphy, Nona

PALAU

France international hooker John Boudebza, who had spells at Hull KR and London Broncos, is the captain at Palau Broncos, providing some consistency to their line-up despite several changes on and off the field.

He told TreizeMondial: “Yes many changes the club is structured from year to year, the club has ambitions. I had a good time last season so naturally I stayed at the club.

“It’s a championship game with a little more value because the victory costs four points against three in the league.”

Coach: Olivier Elima

Last season: 7th

Notable players: Jamil Fakir, Ben Pomeroy, John Boudebza

Ins: Castany (St Esteve), Jamil, Fakir (both Lezignan), Belkhiri (Baho), Domergue (Carcassonne), Pomeroy (St Esteve), Berdu (Pia), Atba (Limoux), Grau (unattached)

Outs: Sigismeau (FLHV XV), De Oliveria (Pia), Lardot (Albi), Flovie (Limoux), Scimone (Pia), Castaillet (Baho), Jimenez (Villefranche), Meye (Pia)

Squad: Bernard, Bonillo, Boudebza, Boudebza, Carrere, Doutres, Herrero, Janicot, Madani, Nietche, Rosemplatt, Sebeas, Theresin, Fakir, Pomeory, Domergue, Belkhiri, Jamil, Castany, Berdu, Atba, Grau

ST GAUDENS

It’s a new look St Gaudens under new coach Julien Gerin, who replaces the long-serving Gilles Dumas. They have brought in three rookies from Down Under, while former Hull KR forward Thibault Franck is also included.

But they have lost Brad Wall and Damien Wastjer, as well as top performer Nathan Leatigaga.

Coach: Julien Gerin

Last season: 9th

Notable players: Jack Wilshere, Thibault Franck

Ins: Wilshere, Delage (both Toulouse), Medjebeur (Gruissan XV), Bellardi (USEP), Franck (unattached), Masuaute (Pia), Freeman (South Newcastle), Keenan (Western Suburbs), Green (Manly)

Outs: Wall (Villeneuve), Laetigaga (Australia), Wastjer, Telai, Bousquet (both Toulouse)

Squad: Anger, Anger, Arreou, Barat, Benyamina, Berra, Caparros, Chanet, Coyle, Dumas, Marsand, Moliner, Quemener, Sentenac, Stefani, Talazac, Trescasa, Vizcay, N Wall, Green, Wilshere, Delage, Medjebeur, Bellardi, Franck, Masuaute, Freeman, Keenan

ST ESTEVE

As the reserve side to Catalans Dragons, St Esteve have a very youthful feel to their side, with plenty of players no doubt harbouring ambitions of reaching Super League.

They can draw on the experience of their assistant coach, former Dragons and Australia forward Greg Bird, and a handful of players have had some Super League exposure, including forward Ugo Perez who has played eight times for the Dragons as well as having loan spells at Whitehaven and Toulouse.

The son of former NRL and Super League forward Alex Chan, Tiaki Chan, is in the St Esteve squad too. The 19-year-old moved over from Sydney in 2017 and has been playing for the Dragons academy against Super League Under 19s sides.

Coach: Benoit Albert

Last season: 2nd (Grand Final winners)

Notable players: Romain Mencarini, Ugo Perez, Joan Guasch

Ins: Bravo (Carpentras), Goffin (Villeneuve), Mekkaoui, Mencarini (both Baho)

Outs: Margalet (Ille), Rouge (Stop), Maria (Villeneuve), Bartes (Lezignan), Pomeroy (Palau), Bravo (Carpentras)

St Esteve squad: Ambert, Baby, Bled, Brochon, Carre, T Chan, J Chan, Cozza, Flovie, Franco, Goffin, Guasch, Jobe, Khedimi, Laguerre, Le Cam, Llong, Martin, Mekkaoui, Mencarini, Perez, Ribas, Salabio, Scimone, Vailhen, Zafra

TOULOUSE

With their primary focus reaching Super League, Toulouse’s second string side that participates in the Elite 1 Championship has struggled in recent years, finishing bottom in 2018/19.

They are now coached by former France international and Catalans Super League player Sebastien Raguin, who will be hoping to lean on the unused players from Sylvain Houles’ Championship squad.

They have brought in import hooker Damien Wastjer from St Gaudens and Spain international Romain Pallares, who had a spell with Hunslet in 2019.

Coach: Sebastien Raguin

Last season: 10th

Notable players:  Kane Bentley

Ins: Laguerre (Salon), Bravo (Carpentras), Telai, Wastjer, Bousquet (all St Gaudens)

Outs: Wilshere, Delage (both St Gaudens), Pallares (Carcassonne), Bianchini (Albi), Reynaud (Montpellier)

VILLENEUVE

Nine-time champions Villeneuve are a good example of a developing Elite 1 club that is trying to make improvements on and off the field. They have restructured their sports and administrative operations, and have recuited well in signing Brad Wall from St Gaudens and Lasarusa Tabu from Albi, adding to former Wigan prop Eddy Pettybourne.

Joining Villeneuve as coach is 20-cap former France international Fabien Devecchi, who played in Super League for Paris St Germain in 1996 and 1997, before a brief spell at Widnes.

Former Wakefield hooker Pita Godinet is back for another season, and they are fancied to make a push for the top four.

The Samoa international arrived this week along with Niue international full-back Latrell Schaumkel, who has previously played in the NSW Cup for North Sydney Bears and Manly.

Coach: Fabien Devecchi

Last season: 6th

Notable players: Brad Wall, Eddy Pettybourne, Pita Godinet

Ins: Wall (St Gaudens), Maria (St Esteve), Schaumkel (Newtown), Melhout (Avignon), Lasvenes (Limoux), Tabu (Albi), Pettybourne (Capras), Sabour (West Wales)

Outs: Lafolafo (unattached), Borana (Villefranche), Goffin (St Esteve), Decarnin (US Tyrosse), Calic (Villefranche)

Squad: Tagne, Cremoux, Lasvesnes, Melhout, Brioux, Carrasco, Novais, Schaumkel, Bachoukh, Gautier, Villegas, Wall, Carrasco, Masselot, Nikolic, Pettybourne, El Azizi, Godinet, Ousty, Dubertrand, Fakir, Hermosilla, Njiensi, Maria.

INFORMATION

Where can I watch?

viàOccitanie, L’Indépendant  and FFRXIII will broadcast live the five games of the Magic Weekend 2019 on their respective sites.

Magic Weekend fixtures

Saturday 16 November 2019
PALAU XIII	15H30	SO AVIGNON XIII
FC LEZIGNAN XIII	17H30	XIII LIMOUXIN
Sunday 17 November 2019
RC ST GAUDENS XIII	13H30	TOULOUSE OLYMPIQUE
ALBI RUGBY LEAGUE	15H30	VILLENEUVE XIII RL
ST ESTEVE XIII CATALAN	17H30	CARCASSONNE XIII