French Magic WKND Preview

Who’s ready for the highly anticipated French Derby?

Toulouse Olympique and the Catalans Dragons will meet this Saturday (4 July) at Stade Pierre-Fabre, Castres for a special edition of the French Magic WKND.

The venue for the French #MagicWKND has been confirmed ?

Stade Pierre-Fabre, Castres will host the clash between @TOXIII and @DragonsOfficiel ??#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/FU9IcAMAWU

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) June 2, 2026

This will be the first time the teams will stage a Magic Weekend fixture on French soil, allowing both sets of fans the chance to experience this epic event without crossing the channel, and fly the colours of Toulouse and the Dragons in an iconic setting.

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? Le derby entre @DragonsOfficiel et Toulousains se joue samedi, à 21h, au stade Pierre Fabre de Castres !

Un rendez-vous immanquable pour vibrer ensemble et vivre une belle soirée de rugby ?

?? Je prends mes places ?… pic.twitter.com/auiFaRpnnI

— Toulouse Olympique (@TOXIII) June 30, 2026

The game will also be shown live and exclusive on Sky Sports (K.O. 8pm, UK time), alongside the six other Magic Weekend clashes taking place at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool.

It’s going to be a special occasion for French Rugby League, promising a festive atmosphere and high-level show; complementing the record-breaking Magic Weekend taking place in Liverpool on the same weekend.

This is the first Magic Weekend meeting between the two French teams, making it even more significant.

On se retrouve samedi à ??????? pour le derby ? pic.twitter.com/tp7UmbGgdF

— Dragons Catalans (@DragonsOfficiel) June 28, 2026

Whilst Toulouse have been settling back into life back in the top tier, the Dragons are celebrating 20 years of participating in the Super League competition in 2026.

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— Dragons Catalans (@DragonsOfficiel) June 29, 2026

In Super League history, the sides have collided three times - most recently in Round 7, where a thrilling points fest unfolded in Perpignan. It was a tale of two halves, with the Dragons managing to withstand a late Toulouse comeback (33-28).

Saturday's event has been positively received, as Toulouse Olympique's veteran skipper, Anthony Marion, expressed his excitement to lead his team out at the first ever French Magic: “It’s a real source of pride to represent Toulouse at the first all-French Magic Weekend. It’s an important event for our sport.

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Notre capitaine égale une légende du club ! Face à Leigh, Anthony Marion a égalé Sébastien Planas en nombre d'apparitions avec 261 matchs disputés sous les couleurs du Toulouse Olympique.

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— Toulouse Olympique (@TOXIII) June 27, 2026

“What’s more, as I’m originally from the Tarn, playing in Castres as captain of TO is going to have a special significance. It’s now up to us now to do the club proud and put on a great show for the crowd.”

Toulouse winger, Benjamin Laguerre, also said: “It’s brilliant to be playing in this French Magic event at such an iconic stadium for French rugby; it fills me with a great sense of pride.

“I hope French rugby league fans will turn out in force for this spectacle and that we can help put our sport a bit more firmly on the map in France.”

Rob Butler, who made the move to Toulouse last season, commented: “I’m really excited to be part of a big occasion for French rugby league; one that will hopefully become a regular for years to come. 

“As a team, we are hoping to take steps in the right direction and put on a great game for our supporters. I’m looking forward to the challenge, enjoying the different stadium, and seeing everyone there.”

Catalans Dragons captain, Ben Garcia, commented: "We're all really looking forward to French Magic Weekend. It's a unique occasion for rugby league in France. Games against Toulouse are always special and playing it in a different venue like Stade Pierre-Fabre gives the event an even bigger feel.

"Castres is a true rugby city with a rich history in the sport, and it's a fantastic opportunity to promote Super League to a passionate rugby audience. Hopefully we can put on a great spectacle for everyone coming along and help showcase our sport."

Romain Navarrete also can’t wait to represent the Dragons on the big stage: “French Magic Weekend is a fantastic concept. It's not just about one game, it's about celebrating rugby league in France. Having fans from both clubs together creates a brilliant atmosphere.

"As players, these are the occasions you really enjoy because you know there will be a lot of excitement. We're expecting a tough game against Toulouse and we're determined to put in a performance our supporters can be proud of."

Tickets for French Magic WKND are available here!

You can watch The French Magic LIVE on Sky Sports this Saturday (4 July), K.O. 8pm.