Catalans Dragons have had a turbulent 2025 to say the least, and the second half of the season isn’t looking any simpler.
After Steve McNamara was sacked earlier this year, the Dragons have some tough contract conversations that will need to be made, with a raft of players currently set to be without a club for 2026.
The Dragons are known for their impressive coups of overseas talent, with the likes of former NRL Grand Final winners Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney donning the French team’s colours in recent years, while Toby Sexton is due to arrive next year. However, it is fair to say some arrivals that were tipped to light up the league have not lived up to expectations.
With four current quota players out of contract next year, key decisions will have to be made if Catalans are to return next year as a top four club.
Here is the full list of players that are in their final year of their contract in Perpignan.
Julian Bousquet
The 34-year-old has been with the Dragons since 2012 and is their current longest-serving player. The French international is still performing at a decent standard and has great experience that can help nurture the up-and-coming French talent in the squad.
Alrix Da Costa
Had interest from Super League clubs in 2024 before signing a new contract to stay with the Dragons. He is an ever-present this season and will likely get another contract to stay at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.
Theo Fages
The former St Helens, Salford and Huddersfield half-back joined Catalans in 2024. His return to France has been an underwhelming one, with only 13 try contributions in 36 matches.
Matthieu Laguerre
The 6’4 centre is joint top-scorer for Les Dracs and is one of several homegrown talents in the side. He has impressed since his debut in 2021. He featured for France in the 2022 World Cup against England, Samoa and Greece.
Tevita Pangai Jr
The Tongan international was a statement signing for Catalans in the off-season, accepting a one-year deal. Reports from Love Rugby League earlier this year, however, have tipped the prop forward to leave at the end of the season, in favour of joining French rugby union.
Arthur Romano
The centre has featured just nine times this season in the league. He is competing with Laguerre for the starting number three shirt, with Reimis Smith the Dragons first choice four. He is yet to score in 2025, but should he leave France at the end of the year, multiple Super League clubs will be chasing his signature.
Paul Séguier
Seguier, 27, made his Dragons debut in 2016, and has made over 100 appearances for the French outfit. He has featured primarily off the bench this season, and is a versatile option who can play prop or second row.
Tariq Sims
The former Fiji international has been a very good pickup for Catalans since signing ahead of 2024. However, this season is probably going to end up as his last. He has made 36 appearances for Les Dracs, scoring five tries.
Bayley Sironen
The second rower is not the only Sironen to be out of a contract for 2026, with brother Curtis potentially leaving St Helens come the end of the year too. Signing on a two-year deal in 2024, he like many Dragons players over the last couple of seasons have failed to make the impact the club would have wanted. However, he is still only 28, and under new leadership could thrive at a different Super League club.
Sam Tomkins
The Super League icon retired mid-way through 2024, only to come out of retirement at the end of the same year to help out a struggling Dragons side. He then decided he would go round again in 2025 before officially calling it a day come the season’s end.
Tanguy Zenon
The 23-year-old hasn’t made a senior appearance since 2023, where he appeared on loan at Hull KR. With the rise of Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet, it is hard to see where the fullback fits into the Dragons’ plans.
Elliot Whitehead
The back-rower penned a one-year deal when he returned to Super League from the NRL and it remains to be seen whether he will go around again.
Fouad Yaha
Yaha saw his contract extended by a further year at the end of the 2024 campaign but his future beyond the end of this season remains undecided. The winger has scored three tries this season and that puts him 107 for the Dragons over the course of his career.
Reimis Smith
The outside back has been a regular this season, scoring six tries in 14 outings, but he hasn’t featured since the heavy loss at Hull KR last month. Whether the club keep him on remains to be seen.
