l'article en question
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.j ... cata28.xml
Les Catalans to revive France
By Michael Fisher
(Filed: 28/05/2005)
The inclusion of Les Catalans in the Super League next season is set to reverse the flagging fortunes of the French international game.
France have not beaten Great Britain since 1990, although fixtures have been suspended between the two countries in recent years due to the gap in standards.
Steve Deakin, the Oldham-born coach of Les Catalans, believes the bold step of allowing his Perpignan-based side into Super League could signal a turning point.
"Hopefully the Tri-Nations involving Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand will be expanded to include France in five or six years time," Deakin said.
"We will have 17 French players in our 25-man squad next year and that will increase to 19 by 2008."
Les Catalans will play two of their home matches in nearby Narbonne and two over the Spanish border in Figueres, birthplace of artist Salvador Dali.
Deakin added:"We will be playing most of our home matches at our renovated stadium in Perpignan but will be a regional team and that is why we are going on the road.
"The locals are fiercely proud of this region and are Catalans first and Frenchmen and Spaniards second.
We aim to set up development Rugby League programmes around Figueres (notre but est de lancer un programme de developpement du rugby 13 autour de Figueres)."
Les Catalans are currently known as UTC and are favourites to retain the French championship after beating Limoux 31-12 in the cup final last weekend. They have faced criticism, however, that they will only survive by being packed with players from Australia and New Zealand.