Catalans boss praises national coverage of Challenge Cup ahead of St Helens clash

Catalans head coach Steve McNamara has praised the coverage of the Challenge Cup as his side prepare to face St Helens.

The French outfit host the current Challenge Cup holders on Saturday, April 9. The quarter-final tie will be broadcast live on the BBC from 2:00pm.

The Dragons became the first non-British team to win the Challenge Cup in 2018, defeating Warrington 20-14 at Wembley. It was their first trophy in the club’s history, led by McNamara in his first full season in charge.

Catalans’ clash with St Helens will also be broadcast live on French national television, and McNamara believes the coverage is a fantastic opportunity for the sport.

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“It’s a great occasion,” McNamara said during his pre-match press conference.

“It’s the quarter-final of the Challenge Cup and I think it’s awesome that the BBC have come across. It is going to be on national television in France.

“The competition is dear to everyone’s heart in the English game and now in the French game. It was our club’s first ever trophy and the only trophy as a club so quite clearly we have quite a close affinity to the competition. 

“We’re confident in what we do and how we go about things. We’ve had some great tussles with St Helens and built a really good rivalry over the last couple of years.

“It’s about us getting out there and playing well. The fact we do that in front of English national TV and French national TV, even more so to show people what the game is about.

“It’s very important at this stage of rugby league in France. What ourselves and Toulouse have brought to the game over the last three years has been sensational for the game as a whole.”

All four Men’s quarter-finals will be broadcast live. Hull KR host Castleford on Friday night live on Premier Sports. Hull also travel to Huddersfield on the same channel.

On Sunday, Willie Poching’s Wakefield face Wigan live on BBC Two with a 2:30pm kick-off.

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