Jake Emmitt: Super League needs two French teams
Former St Helens and Toronto forward Jake Emmitt says French rugby league deserves two teams in Super League.
The six-time Wales international made more than 250 professional games. He enjoyed stints with the likes of St Helens, Castleford, Salford, Leigh and Toronto.
Toulouse are currently in their first ever season in the top flight division, and have recorded just one win so far this season. Catalans currently sit fourth, and host St Helens in this weekend’s quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup.
Emmitt, 33, spent a season with Carcassonne in French Elite 1 in 2019 to 2020, and believes the sport will benefit from Super League retaining two French sides.
Jake Emmitt: ‘It will only benefit rugby league’
“You don’t realise how big it is down south,” Emmitt said on the latest Love Rugby League podcast.
“I didn’t realise how passionate it is. Having two Super League teams now and the World Cup there will hopefully send it through the roof.
“It was a good experience and a good lifestyle. You were really looked after. They’d sort your accommodation and your car. We never had to pay for lunch, we’d just have steak and chips at a bar that supports the club.
“If you’ve ever been Carcassonne, there’s a big castle and it is beautiful.
“I’d probably advocate for it now a bit. The passion down there (is great).
“You’ve got the crowds and the likes of James Maloney and Nathan Peats. It’s a really tough competition over there.
“The little stadiums they’ve got are fantastic. I went watching Toulouse a few times because Ben Evans was playing, so we’d drive over and watch. The World Cup coming up there as well.
“They need two teams there. There’s enough to cater for it. Toulouse is a fantastic city. It will only benefit rugby league. I know they’ve had a disrupted start, but hopefully they can stay in it (Super League).”
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