The promising 21-year-old playmaker Arthur Mourgue has just extended his three-season contract with the Dracs. Courted by several English clubs, Arthur Mourgue decided to register for the duration with the Catalan Dragons.
Several hot files had been on the desk of manager, Alex Chan, for a month and the end of the 2020 season of the Dragons against St-Helens.
The non-conservation of Rémi Casty alerted as much as it worried fans and partners, as well as Lucas Albert’s wish to opt for the Elite and Carcassonne.
Since then, the club has sealed three contract extensions for its youngsters with Arthur Romano, Paul Séguier and Lambert Belmas. Three players who have signed for one more season.
But, there was still a hot file on the table, that of Arthur Mourgue. Trained in Avignon, the young scrum half was to his advantage this summer when he replaced Sam Tomkins, suspended at the back. Four match sheets were enough to catch the eye of the English.
If the game of negotiations dragged on, the reason and the will of Steve McNamara to keep it got the better of the sirens from across the Channel.
Arthur Mourgue is therefore linked with the Catalan Dragons, until the end of the 2023 season.
With six tenure in the Super League, the nephew of Christophe Jouffret, the former director of the Dragons does not want to stop there.
“I am happy to extend my adventure in Perpignan. It’s a good opportunity for me. I love playing for this team and its supporters and I can’t wait for the season to resume ” admits the one who has evolved more often with the reserve team than in the Super League.
Except that the departure of Lucas Albert offers him the role of first lining of the pair Maloney – Drinkwater or of the back Sam Tomkins.
Certainly, Arthur Mourgue will have playing time in 2021.
McNamara: “his work ethic is incredible”
“Arthur has grown tremendously over the past twelve months thanks to his attitude and professionalism. His work ethic is incredible. He is an exciting player who must now establish himself in the Dragons as well as in the Super League ”, judge Steve McNamara who promised to give young people a chance in 2021. Given the decrease in the squad, “It will quickly be necessary to try the young people who are growing. We wanted to see some young people one more season and others a little longer, this is the case for Arthur Mourgue and I am happy that he remains faithful to the colors which have been his since 2016 ” said of him, President Bernard Guasch.
Arrived at the Dragons at the age of 17, Arthur Mourgue passed through the doors of the Dragons U19 and U23 before settling down at the big table.
Except that the hardest part remains to be done, to impose himself and to shake up the hierarchy knowing that behind, César Rougé (18 years old) who also evolves in business perfects his apprenticeship with the reserve team.
In the meantime, the Catalan Dragons are sending strong signals with the renewals of French players. Now it’s up to them.
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