Toulouse Olympique sign former Catalans forward with immediate effect

Toulouse Olympique have announced the signing of Lambert Belmas with immediate effect on a deal until 2024.

At the age of 17, he joined Catalans’ Under-19s side before featuring for the Reserve team in French Elite 1 Championship.

Belmas made his Super League debut for the Dragons in 2017 against Huddersfield Giants. He was selected to represent France at that year’s World Cup, but didn’t register an appearance. Since then, he has won four caps, as well as featuring at the World Cup Nines.

The prop forward left Catalans at the expiration of his contract in 2021, and joined Lezignan. He looked set to join Toulouse in their debut Super League season, but suffered an Achilles tendon injury.

Toulouse’s latest addition comes less than a month after the signing of Daniel Alvaro, who joined from the NRL where he made 114 appearances across stints with Parramatta Eels and St George Illawarra.

Toulouse new signing happy to be back

He said: “I am very happy to sign for the next two seasons with the Toulouse Olympique.

“I went through a complicated period but it is now behind me. I worked a lot to be here today.

“I’m really looking forward to playing with the team and finishing this season in the best possible way personally and collectively by staying in the Super League.”

Club president Bernard Sarrazain added: “Signing Lambert is above all our desire to continue to strengthen the squad as we have been doing for several weeks. But it is also a source of pride to see that French players can perform at a high level.

“The arrival of Lambert is the perfect example and we can’t wait to see him evolve on the lawn of Wallon.”

PLAY: Our free Fantasy Rugby League competition is back for 2022

PODCAST: Eorl Crabtree dissects Challenge Cup final & predicts successful Huddersfield future