By STEVE MASCORD
IMG FRANCE have been co-opted to help Super League secure a French TV deal and Toulouse sporting director Cedric Carcia is confident of an agreement being in place next season.
The stated objectives of having Catalans and Olympique in the competition are to improve commercial outcomes, strengthen the French national team and give English fans a positive away experience.
While Garcia and his Dragons counterpart Sebastien Munoz do not welcome the financial burden of flying in visiting teams, the Toulouse boss conceded only one of those objectives has so far been met.
As part of Catalans being required to cover travel costs last year, they were reportedly also offered – along with Toulouse – the opportunity to keep any funds raised through domestic TV, rather than it going into a central pot.
“And so last week we started a working group with Rugby League Commercial, IMG, Catalans and us,” ” Garcia told rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads in an interview at the club’s Stade des Minimes base.
“And IMG France will lead the negotiations.
“It’s really at the early stages but I’m confident we can strike a deal for this year.”
Toulouse return to the top flight in 2026, giving the competition a French derby which all concerned believe provides a more compelling television product.
“Catalans were on their own and they did everything they could – and they did a lot,” Garcia continued.
“When we were in touch with the League, my chairman (Olivier Dubois) was, like, all guns blazing and starting to look at TV.
“I said ‘I think the right strategy is to have a common strategy led by people with experience in this field’.”
Garcia believes French Super League will be on television domestically next year.
“Maybe not a financial deal at first but once again, the idea is to build,” he said.
“…to build a story with French derbies, with one game in France every weekend almost. Most weekends will be like this, some weeks we couldn’t make it happen.
“But there is a story to build, you know? Hopefully TV can really bite into it. If they don’t put, like, direct finance then at least we have big exposure so we can generate revenues with sponsors.”