Paris match a chance to grow rugby league - Partington

Wigan Warriors' trip to Paris to face Catalans Dragons on Saturday will be the perfect opportunity to showcase the sport of rugby league to a wider audience, believes Oliver Partington.

Les Dracs will meet Wigan at Stade Jean-Bouin, home of rugby union outfit Stade Francais, to mark the 30th anniversary of Super League as well as the 20th anniversary of Catalans' debut in the league.

Partington, who started in Saturday's Challenge Cup final win over Hull KR at Wembley, returned to Wigan during the off-season having spent the 2025 season in Perpignan with Catalans.

"It's one we marked on the calendar and one that the whole club's excited for," he told BBC Radio Manchester.

"I know when I spent my time at Catalans it was one they were proud that they got over the line and were excited for. We get to broadcast our beautiful game to some wider fans.

"Hopefully with the amount of rugby union fans and football fans they have there, there will be a few neutrals.

"I know Catalans will be taking plenty of fans and Wigan will definitely be taking a few over, maybe with a bit of a hangover from Wembley, but they'll still be on their way."

Super League kicked off in 1996 when Paris St Germain met Sheffield Eagles at the Charlety Stadium and this fixture brings rugby league back to the French capital.

It will also be the first match Catalans have relocated since they faced Wigan at Barcelona's Camp Nou in 2019, a game which broke the Super League attendance record with a gate of 31,555.

Partington's team-mate Zach Eckersley believes that Catalans, who are eighth in Super League, two points behind Wigan in sixth, will be highly motivated in front of what should be a decent crowd in Paris.

"It's celebrating 30 years of them in the league and so they'll definitely be there to perform well," he said. "Hopefully we can perform well as well."

Partington's return to Wigan came after he made 28 appearances for Catalans in a tough 2025 season for the club, which saw former boss Steve McNamara leave and Joel Tomkins take over for what proved to be a short spell in charge before his exit earlier this season.

Former Hull FC boss John Cartwright has since taken over at the club and will lead them out in Paris.

"They look a lot better. I know Joel [Tomkins] and the staff there worked hard in pre-season to get them fitter and they definitely look fitter," Partington added.

"They've had some good results this year, they beat Hull KR and had some really tough games, including ones they probably shouldn't have won but they ended up pulling it out of the bag.

"They're still finding their feet and finding what works for them but they have some standout wins and they're already doing better than we did last year.

"It's an exciting time for the club and they're growing and have a new coach now so they will be looking to perform for him."