Catalans Dragons confirm injury lay-off for influential full-back
Catalans Dragons Arthur Mourgue celebrates with Arthur Romano at Magic Weekend. Photo by IMAGO/Action Plus
Super League leaders Catalans Dragons have confirmed that full-back Arthur Mourgue is set for a spell on the sidelines with ankle ligament damage.
Mourgue was forced off early on in their defeat to Huddersfield Giants at the Stade Gilbert Brutus earlier this month. He had played in every game this season up until that point.
After missing Thursday night’s victory at St Helens, the French side have today confirmed in a statement that the 24-year-old won’t be involved for a while.
Catalans Dragons issue statement on Arthur Mourgue
Via their club website, the Dragons confirmed: ‘Arthur Mourgue underwent scans to determine the extent of his injury after leaving the field injured during the match against Huddersfield.
The scans have revealed an ankle syndesmosis injury.
His recovery will determine his availability.’
It’s expected that the injury will keep Mourgue out of the side for between four and six weeks.
Mourgue will be missed
Born in Saint-Etienne, Mourgue featured sporadically for Catalans between 2018 and 2020 while also playing for their reserve team, Saint-Esteve in the Elite One Championship.
Breaking through in 2021, the youngster then played a key role in taking the Dragons all the way to the Grand Final.
Mourgue also made his France debut in the same year, and was selected in the squad for the World Cup in November.
The ‘world class full-back’ has already accrued 108 points in 2023, but he’ll now miss big clashes against Leigh Leopards and Wigan Warriors amongst others.
Double blow for Catalans
After the win at St Helens, it had looked like Catalans were thriving. They had bounced back in style from defeat to Huddersfield, and appeared to come through the fiercely-contested clash at the Totally Wicked Stadium unscathed.
Saints meanwhile had James Roby and Mark Percival fail HIAs during the Round 19 fixture, and both will now miss this weekend’s Challenge Cup semi-final.
For Steve McNamara’s side though, since that win, they’ve seen Adam Keighran’s departure at the end of 2023 confirmed and now another of their key men sidelined.
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