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| 2010/11 fixtures released |
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We've still a couple of months to go, but the fixtures for the 2010/11 LER season have been released. Lézignan go hunting a fourth straight title and defend the Lord Derby Cup, but they'll be doing it with a much-changed squad. There's plenty of movement elsewhere among the league clubs too, with a mass exodus from Limoux, a couple of name changes and the introduction of a tenth side to the top flight.
Here, we bring you a round-up of the news and a look at the new fixtures |
Super League has mooted replacing the Magic weekend with the whole of the opening round at a neutral venue. Well, the French have got there first. Round one of the new seasons is a complete round over two days played at Lézignan with the fixtures based on last season's final league table, so it's the champions opening the season against Carcassonne. And so it goes on down the table with Limoux against Pia, UTC - yes it's back to UTC from the rather less wieldy St Estève/XIII Catalan - take on Carpentras and Villeneuve play Avignon. That leaves just one side from last season, but that's another side with a change of name. St Gaudens have the word 'Toulouse' added to the end of the name to signify the link-up with TO and in their new guise they play Montpellier, added to the league for the new season to bring us back up to ten, so it's no more byes and five fixtures per weekend.
All the fixtures can be found here and we'll update any changes as we go along.
The big signing in the league this season is Lézignan's. Faced with a number of departees - James Wynne into retirement, Damien Quinn back to Australia among others - they've brought in Nathan Wynn from Toulouse who really should rip the division up. They've also nabbed Phillip Leuluai from Salford and Mathieu Albérola from Carcassonne, but Adel Fellous has gone to rugby union which we can't see him lasting too long at.
It's not just the young Albérola who leaves ASC - his old man Patrick has also gone to coach Pia and he's replaced at the Domec by former Pia coach Luc Mendez, back in league to the delight of most. His big move is for Salford back-rower Luke Swain and he's added Hosni and Mourad Kriouache from Toulouse. Hosni was seemingly set for greatness, but his career has stalled lately. If anyone can get him back on track, it's Mendez. In his new job, Albérola senior has lost the services of Jared Taylor who has gone to union, but he's brought his big mate and international half-back Christophe Moly with him. He's also nabbed Artie Shead and Mathieu Mayans from Limoux who are leaking players left, right and centre.
Aaron Wood leaves the Grizzlies for Avignon where he'll link up with Joris Casal, another one to leave l'Aiguille. Dean Amos is back in Avignon, this time as coach, and ex-Cronulla forward Brett Kelly joined him on the plane over. Limoux do at least get a new coach in the shape of former player Daniel Wagon while Carpentras have strengthened with the capture of Said Tamghart from Halifax.
And that just about brings you up to date. We'll try to keep on top of the comings and goings ahead of the big kick-off and anything else newsworthy.
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