By STEVE MASCORD
HIS fellow French Super League club Toulouse can’t see the value of competing in the Challenge Cup but Catalans owner Bernard Guasch refuses to consider withdrawing.
The Cup is an enormous expense for overseas clubs with travel and uncertainty caused by its knockout nature. And then there is the extra demand that they ‘insure’ the RFL against any hit to the Wembley final attendances caused by the lack of traveling fans.
Hosting a quarter final last year cost the Dragons 35,000 euros in travel expenses for their rivals, Salford, and match officials.
But club CEO Sebastien Munoz added: “For the Dragons, it is very important to participate.
“It costs money for the Dragons to compete because we pay for flights when we go to England, we pay for the teams when they come here, we pay for the TV.
“But we think it’s a fantastic competition.
“One, it’s fantastic. Deux, it was the first time the club, in 2007, had all the light.”
Catalans played St Helens in the 2007 Challenge Cup final and enjoyed their finest moment to date when they returned to Wembley in 2018 and defeated Warrington.
Munoz continued: “I remember this. With the Dragons and the Challenge Cup, we have a link. It’s very important we participate because we have a link.
“Bernard likes this competition. Loves this competition, Bernard.
“It’s a cost but Bernard wants to play in this competition and for the players, it’s a fantastic opportunity.”
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