One of the most dominant players in the Super League so far in 2025 is reportedly planning to transfer codes at the end of the season and abandon rugby league.
The Daily Telegraph reports that Catalans Dragons player Tevita Pangai Jr, who is out of contract at the conclusion of the current season, is considering a move to rugby union.
Pangai Jr has previously switched sports, let alone codes, with the 29-year-old ending his NRL career to pursue a career in boxing.
The transition ended abruptly when he began training and signing with the Dolphins last summer, before accepting a one-year contract with Catalans in the Super League.
Despite the Catalans’ poor start as a club, Pangai Jr has already made an enormous impact individually, with the former State of Origin player turning many heads with his performances.
Recent reports suggested that he was back on the NRL’s radar, but the player has now declared his desire to join the 15-man code.
Off-contract star talks about switching from rugby league to rugby union.
The forward acknowledged that he has not to discuss a potential NRL comeback, but that his agent is in talks with French rugby union clubs.
The Super League player confirmed: “I haven’t had any conversations to return to the NRL. Laurent is my agent, and he’s in talks with a few French rugby clubs. My family and I are enjoying our lives in Catalonia and throughout Europe. We’re in the Challenge Cup semi-finals, and I’m completely focused on that.”
Catalans will meet Super League leaders Hull KR in the Challenge Cup in early May, but first, Les Dracs must play a series of games to ignite their season, beginning this weekend with Huddersfield Giants.
It’s no surprise that Pangai Jr is exploring rugby union given his proclivity to switch sports and how dominant he would be in the sport with his powerful running style and ability to offload, with the ex-NRL man leading Super League alongside Herman Ese’ese.
