Fouad Yaha leaves Catalans for rugby union

James Gordon

Catalans winger Fouad Yaha is quitting the club to join Top 14 rugby union side Agen.

Yaha, 22, came through the club’s academy and has scored 12 tries in 16 appearance this season, and played in the famous Challenge Cup win over Warrington last month.

Although under contract until the end of November, the two clubs have reached an agreement for his immediate release to allow him to join up with the union side who started their season a fortnight ago.

He said: “I would like to thank the Catalans Dragons for the four seasons I spent at the club. I have improved into a better player during my time at the club and I’m happy to make the Catalans Dragons history by winning the club’s first trophy.”

In total, Yaha scored 32 tries in 62 Super League appearances and also played internationally for France.

Dragons coach, Steve McNamara, added: “Fouad has been an absolute pleasure to work with. The improvements he has made in both his game and lifestyle has been very good. He expressed an interest to me some months back to fulfil a goal of trying Rugby union and whilst it with regret that Fouad will no longer be with the Dragons we wish him well in his new adventure.”

Agen, who finished 11th in the Top 14 last season, have won one of their three games so far this campaign.