Catalans Dragons will be looking to hold on to their Challenge Cup crown when they welcome League One side Doncaster to Perpignan on Saturday.
TEAM FORM GUIDE
Catalans Dragons
The Dragons head into this weekend’s Challenge Cup clash with Doncaster having won four of their last six games including a 37-6 win against 2016 and 2017 winners Hull FC who themselves face the Castleford Tigers.
Steve McNamara’s side currently sit fourth in the Super League table having won eight games in total this season and have the second best form record in the last five games.
Catalans Dragons 19-man squad: 1. Tony GIGOT 2. Jodie BROUGHTON 3. David MEAD 4. Brayden WILIAME 9. Micky McILORUM 10. Sam MOA 11. Kenny EDWARDS 14. Julian BOUSQUET 15. Mickael SIMON 16. Benjamin JULLIEN 17. Matt WHITLEY 18. Alrix DA COSTA 20. Lambert BELMAS 21. Paul SEGUIER 22. Lucas ALBERT 24. Jason BAITIER 25. Arthur ROMANO 27. Fouad YAHA 29. Sam TOMKINS
Doncaster RLFC
Doncaster have had a mixed season and currently sit sixth in the League One table, they had a convincing win over the West Wales Raiders the last time out in the 1895 Cup. However, their league form has taken a dip and they have lost their last two games against Keighley Cougars and the North Wales Crusaders respectively.
Doncaster 19-man squad: Stefanos Bastas, Brandon Douglas, Kyle Kesik, Matty Beharrell, Brad England, Callum Ogden, Connor Bower, Brad Foster, Connor Scott, Ryan Boyle, Tom Halliday, Russ Spiers, Kieran Buchanan, Jordie Hedges, Jason Tali, Matty Chrimes, Jordan Howden, Brandan Wilkinson, Sam Doherty
HEAD TO HEAD
These two teams have never met before both in League and Cup, however Doncaster will be looking to overcome the odds as the lowest ranked team in the competition behind Bradford, Dewsbury, Widnes and Halifax.
KEY BATTLE
Sam Tomkins (Catalans Dragons) v Kyle Kesik (Doncaster)
Sam Tomkins will once again be looking to put his mark on the Challenge Cup having previously won the competition at Wigan and what better way to do this then when they welcome South Yorkshire’s rugby league legend Kyle Kesik.
Kesik is celebrating his testimonial at the Dons this year and has been a key player in Doncaster’s charge towards the League One play offs. His strength and agility is key to his sides defence and he can even score a try or too most noticeably in their opening round win against the Newcastle Thunder.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Saturday 11th May
Venue: Stade Gilburt Brutus
Kick-off: 2pm GMT
Referee: Liam Moore
WHO WILL WIN?
Catalans by 26
