I know this will be controversial, but as a rugby league journalist, I believe it is time to bring an end to the Catalans Dragons/Super League story.

My reasons for this fall into many aspects of the game, not the least of which are international rugby league, the Challenge Cup and the welfare of clubs and players.

Let’s face it, Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique have been very divisive subjects for the fans that are the lifeblood of our sport, ever since Le Dracs entered the competition in 2006 and, nearly two decades later, that division shows absolutely no signs of abating.

Fair play to Bernard Guasch who has put his money where his mouth is (mostly) and to successful coaches like Trent Robinson, Laurent Frayssinous and current incumbent Steve McNamara, who have all busted a gut to make the French experiment a success, but have ultimately failed.

Yes, Catalans Dragons have won the Challenge Cup and they have reached another Wembley final and two Grand Finals, however this has been done mostly on the back of buying in the very best talent with nearly half a Wigan team signing for them, along with international superstars like Stacey Jones, Steve Menzies, Greg Bird (twice) and various other notable names from down under, which are now being added to by new recruits Tevita Pangai Junior and Luke Keary, which have inevitably led to many people questioning how much they’re allowed to spend on their salary cap, with very good reason.

But apart from the salary cap issue, let’s look at some hard evidence that simply cannot be argued with, in any way, shape or form.

A few weeks ago, little more than half an England first choice team (the other half would still be playing down under and be unable to join the squad) went to France for a mid-season international and simply wiped the floor with a full French international team that included the household names of the likes of Arthur Mourgue and many of his Dragons teammates.

Unless I’m completely mistaken, Catalans were introduced into our top competition to help nurture young French players, to build a sustainable production line for French international players, to compete with the very best that Super League has to offer and bread young French stars, ultimately with the aim of producing a competitive French international team.

I’m very sorry to say, that plan has very obviously, drastically failed. France as an international team are now, no more competitive than they were in the 70s and 80s, getting whipped by Great Britain at every turn and being horrendously embarrassed by the Aussies.

Yes, Catalans have reached the odd final and even won one, but their international team are probably further away now from reaching a World Cup Final, than my team Hull FC are from reaching Wembley or Old Trafford (I know plenty will laugh at that statement, but the difference really is that stark).

At the last World Cup it was Toa Samoa who surprised everyone by getting to the final, let’s be honest, France were nowhere to be seen when it came to that showpiece and I don’t suppose anybody will hold out much hope for them next time around.

Another reason why this embarrassment needs putting to bed is the financial health of the clubs in question and the affect that trips to France have on our showpiece events at Wembley and Old Trafford.

It’s a well-known fact that Challenge Cup Final crowds at Wembley have declined somewhat in recent years, with fans saying they can’t afford to get Magic Weekend tickets, Wembley, and Grand Final tickets because of the cost-of-living crisis, then also add the trips to France, which are certainly not cheap.

Also, consider when Catalans have made it to the major finals, plus the bread and butter league and cup games on the way, when they bring either none, or just a handful of fans to places like Wigan, Hull, Leeds etc, I’m not blaming them, it is the way it is for them, but it affects the income of gate receipts for these clubs, completely understandable, but also absolutely unsustainable. It’s just a natural matter of fact that people are powerless to do anything about.

The French experiment was brave and it was bold, and would have pleased the expansionists, but the simple fact of the matter is that it has failed and no matter how much Sky Sports may dislike it, it must surely be evident that what Catalans Dragons need, is not to be playing in Super League, and the same goes for Toulouse.

If France is ever going to have a competitive international team, they need a competitive league in France itself. Looking at England’s 40-8 win in Toulouse recently, imagine what a full England team, with all their NRL stars playing would have done to them, you could arguably have doubled that score, it’s no good for the French, it’s no good for England or Great Britain.

The experiment has to stop. In 1996 we took a gamble with the help of television money, what’s to say they can’t do the same in France, to create a competitive league of similar stature? It certainly won’t be easy, nothing that’s worthwhile ever is easy, but how much longer do we have to go on burying our head in the sand and hoping that, one day, France might have a competitive international team, one that can compete with England or even Great Britain and how long must we see dwindling crowds at Wembley and Old Trafford and Magic Weekend, because the outlay for a trip to France is too great for the lifeblood of our sport?

Answers on a postcard, please!

Written by Ian Judson (Site contributor & Hull FC fan)