Catalans Dragons have continued in their rebuild by bringing a familiar face back to Perpignan ahead of the 2026 Super League campaign with Ugo Tison returning.

The Dracs will miss the play-offs for a second consecutive season having placed in the top four in every year from 2019 until 2023. Twice during that four-year spell they made it to the Grand Final, even winning the League Leaders Shield once.

Missing the play-offs in 2024 was a shock and disappointment but doing so again in 2025 is abject failure and it’s seen huge changes at the club.

Head coach Steve McNamara was removed earlier in the year when he looked like the club were tracking to miss the six, however, that’s been confirmed in recent weeks with interim coach Joel Tomkins winning just one of his nine games in charge.

Despite that record, Tomkins has been appointed head coach on a two-year deal and he outlined that recruitment will be a primary focus, particularly with the aim of reducing the average age of the squad.

Their latest signing of Ugo Tison also follows that trend.

Ugo Tison returns to Catalans Dragons

The 24-year-old hooker left Catalans after the 2024 season, having spent much of it on loan with London Broncos where he played 19 games.

Out of contract with the Dragons, the Frenchman took his talents Down Under and signed for Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

The hooker has now returned to the south of France, however, he will join up with Catalans’ reserve team St Esteve Dragons.

St Esteve play in the Elite One competition which starts at the end of September and runs over winter, meaning Tison will have returned to full match fitness when Catalans start their Super League campaign next year.

Whether he will play for the Dragons is yet to be seen but he’s another option at hooker and he;s even joining the club’s training squad for the remainder of this season.

Speaking on his return, Tison said: “I’m really happy to be training with the squad again. I hope I get the chance to show what I can do and perform well both with Catalans Dragons and the reserve team.”

𝐔𝐠𝐨 𝐓𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐮 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛
The 24-year-old French hooker will wear the colours of the St Estève XIII Catalan reserve team for the 2025-2026 season. He has now joined the Dragons’ training squad.

🇫🇷 https://t.co/lbiwXrYenf
🇬🇧… pic.twitter.com/laYIjXbzLb

— Catalan Dragons (@DragonsOfficiel) August 1, 2025