Two French rugby league sides have made history in recent weeks, as competitions usually dominated by teams from the north of England have been given a dose of continental flair. 

Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique topping Super League and the Championship respectively marked a momentous season in which French teams won these leagues for the first time. 

That they did so at the same time should be a real boost for the sport in one of its historic hotbeds in the south of France.