Remi Casty hangs up his boots after leading Toulouse to Super League

Former Catalans captain Remi Casty won’t play against his old club next season despite leading Toulouse to Super League.

Casty, 36, was discarded by the Dragons 12 months ago before signing for Toulouse and helping them to promotion with a 34-12 win over Featherstone in the Championship Grand Final.

But he confirmed post-match that he is retiring from the game.

He told Sky Sports: “It’s over. This was the last dance and what a day for it.

“This club has fought for 10 years to get into Super League. It tried in 2005 when Catalans won but kept going and I’m thrilled for the club and for French rugby league.

“I’m disappointed Catalans lost (in the Super League Grand Final) but French rugby league is going up.”

A crowd of 9,235 at the Stade Ernest Wallon saw centre Mathieu Jussaume score two tries as Toulouse completed a perfect season and finally earned their Super League after some 18 years of trying.

Featherstone to their credit dug in to make a game of it having trailed 16-0, and it was only when Jussaume crossed for his second try that the Frenchmen could be sure of promotion.

Casty played 25 times for France and was the Dragons captain when they famously won the 2018 Challenge Cup.

He made more than 300 appearances for the Dragons, either side of one season in the NRL with Sydney Roosters where he made 12 appearances in 2014.

The forward was part of the Roosters’ World Club Challenge winning squad in that year and he also made two appearances in the Super League Dream Team.

When Casty’s surprise departure was announced last year, Dragons coach Steve McNamara said: “This was amongst others an extremely difficult decision.

“Rémi expressed a desire to continue playing which I respect but we, as a club, had to assess the whole situation.