It is understood the player and his manager Chris Orr flew to the south of France last week for a tour of the Catalans club's facilities and to meet with president Bernard Guasch and coach Kevin Walters. The Dragons are hoping to complete the formalities in time for Bird to make his Super League debut against Castleford at the Gilbert Brutus Stadium on Saturday. Bradford had pledged to stand by the player as he waited for the chance to clear his name in next month's court appearance, but chairman Peter Hood says the club will raise no objection to his latest move. www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... alans.html

It is understood the player and his manager Chris Orr flew to the south of France last week for a tour of the Catalans club's facilities and to meet with president Bernard Guasch and coach Kevin Walters. The Dragons are hoping to complete the formalities in time for Bird to make his Super League debut against Castleford at the Gilbert Brutus Stadium on Saturday. Bradford had pledged to stand by the player as he waited for the chance to clear his name in next month's court appearance, but chairman Peter Hood says the club will raise no objection to his latest move. www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... alans.html

So which is it?

It'll be good to see Deon again after all this time. Whatever happened to him after he left us?

this fedie bloke is a real pain,he's always on southstander spouting off,a bit like me on here tonight i suppose


no offence intended though guys!

fed fed fedie

So is he playing or hoping to play, fed fed fedie?

no . not this week . i think .

So you were wrong then.

i dont know yet

Another interesting factor in this that seems to have been mostly overlooked is the overseas quota situation at Les Catalans.

Clearly Bird is an overseas quota player (not a KOLPAC or a EEC national) and had he come to any of the UK clubs (perhaps apart from Celtic) he would have counted as 1 of the 5 overseas quota players each club is allowed.

Now I don't know whether Catalans have a greater allowance in that regard but interestingly, in the piece on Sporting Life it notes at the bottom that Catalans have an overseas quota place free due to injuries to Jason Ryles and Dane Carlaw.

Now as far as I'm aware, the quota applies to the number of players in your squad, not the number you field on a week by week basis. If a player is injured long term he can be deregistered in order for another player to be brought in his place. I'd be interested to hear which of those 2 ex-Australian internationals has been told he won't be playing for the next 9 months (the length of Birds short term contract) even after recovering from their injury!

looks like bird IS PLAYING THIS WEEKEND I'm sick of harassment in Australia - Greg Bird BANISHED Cronulla star Greg Bird last night finally broke his silence about a controversial move to France by declaring: "I was over the constant harassment in Australia." Bird, 25, yesterday modelled his new Catalans jumper in the southern French city of Perpignan and is set to debut for the club on Sunday morning (AEDT) against Castleford in Super League. Angry at his critics yet excited at playing again, Bird opened up to The Daily Telegraph, saying from France: "I'm just relieved to be over here and back in a football environment and back around a team again. I just want to play footy again. www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html

looks like bird IS PLAYING THIS WEEKEND I'm sick of harassment in Australia - Greg Bird BANISHED Cronulla star Greg Bird last night finally broke his silence about a controversial move to France by declaring: "I was over the constant harassment in Australia." Bird, 25, yesterday modelled his new Catalans jumper in the southern French city of Perpignan and is set to debut for the club on Sunday morning (AEDT) against Castleford in Super League. Angry at his critics yet excited at playing again, Bird opened up to The Daily Telegraph, saying from France: "I'm just relieved to be over here and back in a football environment and back around a team again. I just want to play footy again. www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html

Quote ="fredie"looks like bird IS PLAYING THIS WEEKEND I'm sick of harassment in Australia - Greg Bird BANISHED Cronulla star Greg Bird last night finally broke his silence about a controversial move to France by declaring: "I was over the constant harassment in Australia." Bird, 25, yesterday modelled his new Catalans jumper in the southern French city of Perpignan and is set to debut for the club on Sunday morning (AEDT) against Castleford in Super League. Angry at his critics yet excited at playing again, Bird opened up to The Daily Telegraph, saying from France: "I'm just relieved to be over here and back in a football environment and back around a team again. I just want to play footy again. www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html'" so you were wrong then....

Quote ="fredie"looks like bird IS PLAYING THIS WEEKEND I'm sick of harassment in Australia - Greg Bird BANISHED Cronulla star Greg Bird last night finally broke his silence about a controversial move to France by declaring: "I was over the constant harassment in Australia." Bird, 25, yesterday modelled his new Catalans jumper in the southern French city of Perpignan and is set to debut for the club on Sunday morning (AEDT) against Castleford in Super League. Angry at his critics yet excited at playing again, Bird opened up to The Daily Telegraph, saying from France: "I'm just relieved to be over here and back in a football environment and back around a team again. I just want to play footy again. www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html'" so you were wrong then....

Not to bothered if he plays.
He cant in any way shape or form be match fit, and imo wont last half the game.
Come on cas smash him and his catalans team, and give us a 3 match winning streak.

If Bird is aloud into this country to play away games it makes a mockery of the whole system
Next we'll have Leeds paying Catalan to sign Eastwood then loan him to them for the length of his contract

but he is not allowed in the uk

so how can they loan him

We were talking to an Australian bloke at the Au Bon Coin before the game who had some pretty forthright views on Bird. The word "overhyped" was used an awful lot, and several references were made to him being an unstabling influence both on and off the field. He seemed to think that Bird's arrival was bad news for Catalans.

How did Bird play against you. Any good?.

Terry O'Connor seemed to think so, commenting on the highlights.

Personally, I found him largely unnoticeable

I was in the cheap seats with a pretty 'flat' view of the action tbh. I guess the conditions and the fact that he hardly knew anyone would be factors too. FWIW I'm with tb though, he didn't seem to particularly shine.

FORMER NRL star Greg Bird was "the victim" when he allegedly assaulted a young woman in a Cronulla nightclub, Sutherland Local Court heard yesterday. The 25-year-old, who on Thursday flew in from France where he is playing for the Catalans rugby league team, had his one common assault charge upgraded to five charges but believes the evidence of three security guards and security video will clear him. "Three security officers are able not only to give evidence, but to give evidence to the effect that he was the victim in this matter," his solicitor Patrick Conaghan told the court. Gallery: A portrait of Greg Bird www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 21,00.html

FORMER NRL star Greg Bird was "the victim" when he allegedly assaulted a young woman in a Cronulla nightclub, Sutherland Local Court heard yesterday. The 25-year-old, who on Thursday flew in from France where he is playing for the Catalans rugby league team, had his one common assault charge upgraded to five charges but believes the evidence of three security guards and security video will clear him. "Three security officers are able not only to give evidence, but to give evidence to the effect that he was the victim in this matter," his solicitor Patrick Conaghan told the court. Gallery: A portrait of Greg Bird www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 21,00.html

Quote ="fredie"FORMER NRL star Greg Bird was "the victim" when he allegedly assaulted a young woman in a Cronulla nightclub, Sutherland Local Court heard yesterday. The 25-year-old, who on Thursday flew in from France where he is playing for the Catalans rugby league team, had his one common assault charge upgraded to five charges but believes the evidence of three security guards and security video will clear him. "Three security officers are able not only to give evidence, but to give evidence to the effect that he was the victim in this matter," his solicitor Patrick Conaghan told the court. Gallery: A portrait of Greg Bird www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 21,00.html'" Bloody 'ell he's going to be busy over the next couple of months Delboy66(aye of the tigers fanzine)

Quote ="fredie"FORMER NRL star Greg Bird was "the victim" when he allegedly assaulted a young woman in a Cronulla nightclub, Sutherland Local Court heard yesterday. The 25-year-old, who on Thursday flew in from France where he is playing for the Catalans rugby league team, had his one common assault charge upgraded to five charges but believes the evidence of three security guards and security video will clear him. "Three security officers are able not only to give evidence, but to give evidence to the effect that he was the victim in this matter," his solicitor Patrick Conaghan told the court. Gallery: A portrait of Greg Bird www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 21,00.html'" Bloody 'ell he's going to be busy over the next couple of months Delboy66(aye of the tigers fanzine)

So who was that at Wakefield today

little birdie

he was absolutely garbage last night at headingley,the most memorable moment was when he slammed the ball to the floor, when he clearly 5hat himself when he was opposed by JJB

Thanks for that! we will all sleep better now