One of the worst-kept secrets in Super League has now been made official with Catalans Dragons announcing that John Cartwright will be their head coach for 2027, with a permanent deal signed.
Cartwright has openly admitted in recent weeks that he will be at the club for 2027, staying on beyond his initial deal that was just a short-term one until the end of the season.
He took that deal on back in May, just over a month after it was announced that he had stepped down from his role at Hull FC, having previously had it confirmed that his contract would be cut short at the end of the season.
The May appointment of John Cartwright saw him take over at the French club after Joel Tomkins’ exit, with the Australian appointed for the remainder of the season.
He’d admit in a number of recent pressers that he would stay on for 2027 with that news reported via Sky Sports back in July, and the club have now confirmed it.
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Catalans Dragons sign John Cartwright to permanent deal
The Dragons have been very active in their recruitment and previous signings Jesse Arthars and Tyson Gamble had both played at Brisbane Broncos, where John Cartwright had been an assistant coach.
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They would announce Luciano Leilua on a three-year contract earlier this week and they’ve now confirmed that Cartwright will lead them for the next two seasons, signing a deal until the end of the 2028 season.
Speaking on his new deal, Cartwright said: “It is a privilege to be able to do the job I love at this level. Being in the south of France with a club that has a strong identity and a rich history is an opportunity for me.
“I was very enthusiastic from my first meeting with Bernard. His commitment to the club and his long-term vision immediately convinced me. It’s a demanding position, with a lot of pressure, but I’m really looking forward to this challenge.
“This club has enormous potential. For rugby league as a whole, it is essential that the Catalans Dragons become a strong and competitive team again.”
It wasn’t just Cartwright’s contract that Catalans announced, with the French club also confirming that hooker Ugo Tison had signed a new two-year contract, also keeping him at the club until the end of the 2028 season.
𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞 🔒
L’entraineur australien a signé un nouveau contrat de deux ans avec les Dragons Catalans.
▶️ https://t.co/AUXUbGxGqv pic.twitter.com/cVjJjCA0fo
— Dragons Catalans (@DragonsOfficiel) August 20, 2026
