Catalans dominate French squad

Seven players from French Super League side Les Catalans Dragons have been named by John Monie in the squad to face Great Britain at Headingley Carnegie Stadium in the Frontline Test Match.

When the Catalan side was introduced into Super League it was always expected that they would provide the bulk of players for future France internationals in much the same way as NZ Warriors in the NRL.

The only UK-based player to earn a place in Monie’s squad is Harlequins hooker Julien Rinaldi, who moved to London after a stand-out season with the Dragons in their inaugural Super League campaign.

Former Catalans player Teddy Saddaoui has been forced to pull out of the 19-man squad through injury, while the injured Gregory Mounis will be replaced by ex-Catalans forward Aurelien Cologni.

Eleven players have been selected from the French Elite League, including four from Toulouse Olympique and two each from Villenueve and St Gaudens, but only one, Maxime Greseque, from champions Pia.

France squad:

Thomas Bosc (Catalans), Olivier Charles (Catalans), Aurelien Cologni (Lezignan), Cyril Stacul (Villeneuve), Sylvain Houles (Toulouse), Sebastien Planas (Toulouse), Maxime Greseque (Pia), Christophe Moly (Carcassonne), James Wynne (Toulouse), Jerôme Guisset (Catalans), Julien Rinaldi (Harlequins), Jean-Christophe Borlin (St Gaudens), David Ferriol (Catalans), Eric Anselme (St Gaudens), Cyril Gossard (Catalans), Gregory Mounis (Catalans), Constant Villegas (Toulouse), Matthieu Griffi (Catalans), Frederic Vaccari (Villeneuve)