French round-up: Pia win Catalans derby as Hull prop heads to Albi

The latest from across the Channel in partnership with TreizeMondial.fr

Pia win the Catalan derby as Elite 2 kicks off

The highlight of the first round of Elite 2 Championship saw a repeat of last season’s cup final, as Pia beat Baho 37-30. It was a gripping start between two of the top teams in the division.

Salon, who finished bottom last season, recruited strongly over the off-season and started strongly with a 46-18 win over Lyon.

Two tries from last season’s top try scorer, Mathis Samai, wasn’t enough to stop Toulon falling to an opening day 32-18 defeat at home to Villefranche, while Ille marked their first game in Elite 2 with a narrow 22-16 defeat at Entraigues.

Despite missing 10 players, VARL and Vinne Anderson started with a victory at Lescure, winning 28-18.

Baho sign two former Catalans Dragons reserves

Baho boss Didier Meynard has signed Joseph Negre and Yassine Boutouba, who were both previously with the Catalans Dragons reserve side.

Negre, 28, was a Coupe de France winner with St Esteve in 2016 and 2018 before hanging up his boots, but comes out of retirement to join the Elite 2 side. Prop Boutouba, also 28, most recently played with Carcassonne and looks to get a new start with the Geckos.

Nzoungou heads to Albi

Hull prop Levy Nzoungou has signed for Albi after his release by the Super League club. The Congo-born prop has already played for seven clubs at the tender age of 21, as well as having stints at St Helens and Melbourne. His Hull deal was ended with a year left on his contract and he now heads to France to play a full season, before planning to return to England at the conclusion of the campaign.