By hanging on in nerve-jangling fashion to lift the Challenge Cup on Saturday, Catalans Dragons earned their first silverware since being granted a place at the top table of British rugby league 12 years ago. But they are no new kids on the block. The Dragons’ roots lie in three traditional clubs, the oldest of which, XIII Catalan, was formed in 1934. As the 5,000 Catalans fans who partied hard at Wembley on Saturday would tell you, rugby league is in their blood.

This triumph comes at a time when the game in England and France needs a shot in the arm. Catalans coach Steve McNamara understands what this victory means. “It’s a bit surreal. I know how much was spent by the fans to be here and there are those back home who are heartbroken they couldn’t be here because of the expense. We’ll savour this moment. But ultimately we want to compete consistently.”

It was a day to celebrate the dispersed roots of our game. Exactly half of Catalans’ matchday 17 were French: eight born and bred Gallics, plus the Paris-born, Australian-raised, Perpignan-adopted Jason Baitieri, who led the “Catalans! Catalans!” chant on the pitch at the final whistle. They were not just representing the region of Languedoc-Roussillon, either.

The Lance Todd Trophy was won by full-back Tony Gigot, a renegade figure who was dumped by London Broncos after just two Super League games four years ago and who spent the start of this season successfully appealing a ban he had been given for shenanigans at a drugs test. “It’s a crazy feeling,” said Gigot. “It’s been a difficult time but I never stopped dreaming, believing there would be a better time. Maybe I needed to live that moment [the drugs ban] to be a better guy.”

Gigot is from Avignon, as are winger Fouad Yaha and second try-scorer Ben Garcia, who was a young fan at Wembley the last time Catalans were in the final. Garcia was an exciting enough teenage talent to sign for one of Brisbane Broncos’ farm teams and later sign for Penrith Panthers. Against Warrington he even put in a solid spell at hooker while Michael McIlorum took an extended half-time.

The maverick Gigot was almost faultless in attack and defence, as was Dragons winger Lewis Tierney. Scotland international Tierney raced cross field to make a remarkable tackle an inch or two from the line, the Wigan-born son of Jason Robinson adding steel to his try-scoring prowess: it had taken him just 108 seconds to touch down.

Like most modern teams, these Dragons are a cosmopolitan lot. Kiwi wrecking machine Kenny Edwards tiptoed the legal line; Fiji centre Brayden Williame finished a textbook-smooth move for the third Catalans try; Papua New Guinea star David Mead stopped Tom Lineham from sliding over a few minutes later; they were all held together by that Leeds Irish warrior, the magnificent McIlorum, who secured his third winners medal. And kicking everything was a different Josh Drinkwater to the one who, like Gigot, failed in that hapless 2014 London Broncos side.

Heroic skipper Remi Casty was suitably overwhelmed by the achievement. He was initially too emotional to answer questions from the press but, encouraged by a hand from McNamara, he finally declared: “It’s like a dream. It was very emotional.”

Dragons were nearly relegated this time last year, salvaged only with a comprehensive last-day win at Leigh. They started this season equally dismally, so to beat two top-four sides to win the cup is as surprising as it is uplifting. “These players implemented the changes on and off the field,” said McNamara. “The French players’ contribution has been huge. They have improved out of sight.” For the first time, the famous old cup headed on to a plane, not a bus up the M1. It could be off to Toronto soon – or even New York. We had better get used to this.

Foreign quota

Catalans Dragons players celebrate at Wembley. Photograph: Conor Molloy/Action Plus via Getty Images

If you didn’t go to Wembley on Saturday, don’t criticise the attendance. To get 50,672 to London to watch Warrington and a team from 816 miles away was quite an achievement. It was 10,000 more than went to last year’s World Cup final. And it could be the sixth highest rugby league attendance in the world this year.

The neutrals, who waved their Catalans flags and nah-nah na-nahed their way through a moving pre-match La Marseillaise, were clearly not very neutral at all. While plenty wore “Dragon For A Day” shirts, many others wore their club jersey, from Whitehaven and Waterhead to esteemed members of the Dead Club Society, Fife Lions and Scarborough Pirates. Most notable was the impressive array of retro Catalans shirts. I even spotted a battered old Lezignan jersey.

Clubcall: Newcastle Thunder

The RFL and pro clubs are apparently about to break the moral code – if not legalities – of sporting governance by changing promotion to, and relegation from, the Championship – with five weeks left of the season!

It beggars belief and can only be explained by the sheer panic that, after a couple of recent defeats, Bradford may continue to stumble and lose in the play-offs. That is unlikely, but possible. And if so, tough. With the likely additions of York, Bradford and possibly Widnes, at the expense of Rochdale and/or Swinton, we are already guaranteed a stronger Championship in 2019 without it expanding.

The only other League 1 club with considerable growth potential are Newcastle, who could now make a late charge for the play-offs. Averaging larger crowds than many traditional English clubs outside Super League, they will also have veteran Ireland halfback Liam Finn at the wheel next season.

Goal-line drop-out

Watched by the RFL hierarchy, Keighley blew any realistic hopes they had off making the play-offs with a dismal display at London Skolars. The annual Friday Night Lights is usually an uplifting event but it was pretty miserable if you were an underdressed Keighley fan, of whom there were a shivering few. Half their team arrived just 30 minutes before the scheduled kick-off, meaning a delayed start, by which time the heavens had opened and made up for three months with hardly a drop. The temperature plummeted but the Skolars were red hot. There are changes brewing in north London. Hopefully increased investment in both development programmes and elite performance will see even more local talent rise to the top.

Fifth and last

Folk campaigning for the Challenge Cup to move back to May can forget it – at least until 2021 when the new TV deals kick in. Whether owned by the FA or (friend of rugby league) Shahid Khan by then, Wembley is out of the question in the second half of May with the EFL committed to their five finals there, following the FA Cup final. Even if non-league finals day and some England games move away, a Challenge Cup final in May is highly unlikely in 2020 as Wembley prepares to host seven games at Euro 2020.

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