Catalans owner Bernard Guasch recovering in hospital
One of rugby league’s most colourful characters, Catalans owner Bernard Guasch, is recovering in hospital following a reported heart attack.
Guasch, 61, has underpinned the Dragons journey from entering Super League to their historic Challenge Cup final win and winning the Super League leaders’ shield.
French newspaper reports that he suffered a heart attack and was hospitalised on Thursday night.
He will now miss the Dragons home opener against Wakefield on Saturday night.
A club statement said: “The last news we just received are reassuring. The club would like to wish him a speedy recovery.”
Guasch is boss of the meat manufacturing firm Guasch Viandes.
Everyone at Love Rugby League wishes him a speedy recovery.
A storied journey
Bernard Guasch was a stand-off during his playing days, turning out for XIII Catalan and St Esteve.
In the early 2000s, he became part of the Catalans Dragons project following the merger of those two clubs to form Union Treiziste Catalane.
After joining Super League in 2006, Catalans reached the 2007 Challenge Cup final and the 2008 Super League play-offs.
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They won their first silverware with a historic Challenge Cup triumph over Warrington at Wembley in 2018.
The following year, Guasch then took the Dragons to play Wigan Warriors at the Nou Camp in Barcelona, the heart of Catalonia.
He also received praise for his commitment to the Dragons cause during the coronavirus pandemic.
Catalans were forced to play a large proportion of their games in the UK, with private air travel funded by Guasch.
Not scared to be outspoken either, Guasch’s views have landed him in hot water during the Dragons journey.
Following their Grand Final defeat to St Helens, he vowed never to return to the final under English referees.
That saw him handed a £10,000 fine by an RFL tribunal.