Super League's tale of two cities

If there were a player who was to be seen as the face of the French revolution which has occurred in rugby league over the past decade, then Tony Gigot would arguably fit that bill as well as anyone.

The 31-year-old was at the forefront for Catalans Dragons as they completed their historic Challenge Cup triumph in 2018, being named man of the match in the semi-final victory over St Helens and becoming the first French player to win the Lance Todd Trophy as the Dragons beat Warrington Wolves at Wembley.

Now Gigot is part of Toulouse Olympique's efforts to establish themselves as the second French club in the Betfred Super League, joining after they won promotion from the Betfred Championship last year, and nothing makes the France international happier than seeing how the sport is growing in his homeland.

"This is always something which pushed me," Gigot told Sky Sports on a media call ahead of Toulouse's must-win Magic Weekend clash with Wakefield Trinity. "I had the dream of being a rugby league player and winning a trophy with Catalans, and I made that.

"That's why I want to see something else and to have another Super League team in France is unbelievable.

"But the second step is we want to stay and create a second big club in France, and that's our main goal. We knew it would be very hard, but nothing is impossible and that's what we believe."

Paradoxically though, this year has been simultaneously the best of times and the worst of times for Toulouse. Because while the newcomers have added another French dimension to Super League and claimed the notable scalp of reigning champions St Helens, they find themselves in danger of an immediate return to the second tier.

The departures of key men Mark Kheirallah and