Jerome Guisset knows the journey better than anyone. The Perpignan native spent six seasons in Super League with Warrington and Wigan before returning home when Catalans Dragons entered the competition in 2006. Back then, training facilities measured barely larger than a changing room, and travel demanded 12-hour bus-and-flight odysseys to England.

Those early struggles forged something special. Catalans captured Challenge Cup glory at Wembley in 2018, claimed the League Leaders' Shield in 2021, and reached Grand Finals in 2021 and 2023. They even took Super League to the iconic Nou Camp in 2019, drawing over 35,000 fans. Owner Bernard Guasch deserves credit as a visionary leader who built this success systematically.

Now Catalans prepares to host Wigan in Paris on Saturday, marking 20 years in Super League. The club remains rugby league's primary force in France, a market dominated by football, basketball, and rugby union. Developing young French talent while playing attractive rugby offers the path forward for a sport fighting for attention.

Guisset's story reflects Catalans' evolution from makeshift facilities to major fixtures. Their Paris showcase proves rugby league can command significant audiences in France when given the platform.