Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DRAGON QUEST
Catalans keen to breathe fire again but quarantine plans could trap them in travel limbo
STEVE MCNAMARA says Catalans Dragons will finish the 2020 season “no matter what” despite the club facing a logistical nightmare.
The Perpignan-based side would be among the first to return to action in Super League’s proposed August restart as they are three matches behind some clubs due to early season postponements.
But they do not yet know when they will be able to host matches – with clarification expected from the French Government this week – and could have to set up camp initially in England.
The issue is also complicated by the 14-day quarantines for travel between England and France, which start on June 8.
Coach Mcnamara (right) has been based in Hull while holding talks with Super League and RFL officials. But he will return to Perpignan ahead of that deadline, and says the Dragons are working hard to find solutions. He said: “We are in a different scenario to the rest of the competition and this is going to be a very expensive period of time for our club.
“We had all our flights and accommodation booked for this season. The support from the Government is different in
France – we don’t have any of the £16million loan available to the sport from the UK Government.
“Then there is the travel issue – when we will be able to fly, whether the quarantine will be in place then, and if it will allow us to get in and out.
“A lot of the information is still limited but we can plan and prepare the best we can, so that when a call is made on the fixtures we will be part of that. We will find a way.”
The Dragons usually base themselves in Leeds while in England but have received offers from other venues too.
Mcnamara said: “There are still so many scenarios, but we will be in a position that when decisions are made we can move quickly.
“We don’t just want to be involved in the competition, we want to put ourselves in a position to challenge and win it.”
Mcnamara also confirmed reports from Australia that the Dragons are hoping to retain controversial signing Israel Folau (left) for next year, despite interest from the NRL.
Mcnamara said: “Israel is a player we would like to keep, but we know he will have options.”