Mitchell Pearce to make first Catalans appearance against Toulouse

Josh McAllister
Mitchell Pearce

Mitchell Pearce is set to make his first appearance for Catalans this weekend in the club’s pre-season friendly with Toulouse. 

Catalans host the Championship side this Saturday at the Gilbert Brutus Stadium. It is the club’s only pre-season friendly ahead of the 2022 season.

Pearce, 32, has signed a two-year deal with Steve McNamara’s side, with the option of a third.

He made more than 230 appearances for Sydney Roosters before moving to Newcastle Knights. The stand-off has also represented New South Wales and NRL All Stars.

Pearce will wear the number six shirt in 2022 for the Dragons. He replaces now-French Elite 1 and Lezignan star James Maloney.

New signings Dylan Napa and Tyrone May are also in line to make their first appearances. They both made the move from the NRL during the off-season.

Benjamin Garcia, Julian Bousquet and Alrix Da Costa have not been named. 

Squad: Catalans Dragons confirm 2022 squad numbers

Mitchell Pearce set to feature in first Catalans game

Catalans 22-man squad to face Toulouse: Davies, Langi, Whare, Yaha, Pearce, Drinkwater, Dudson, McIlorum, Whitley, McMeeken, Jullien, Seguier, Goudemand, Laguerre, Romano, May, Napa, Dezaria, Rouge, Chan, Kasiano, Tomkins.

Trouble in France

Toulouse have confirmed that captain Johnathan Ford has left the club two weeks before the start of their debut Super League season.

Ford, 32, has left the club due to family and personal reasons.

While the club has not confirmed it was vaccination related, sports players in France will be required to be vaccinated to compete in 2022.

Toulouse Olympique have confirmed that the club is in talks with players over their vaccination status ahead of the 2022 season.

Catalans have reportedly confirmed that all players and staff have been vaccinated.

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