Leeds Rhinos have signed France prop Mickael Goudemand on a two-contract from Catalans Dragons.
Goudemand, 27, will move to Headingley at the end of the season and is seen by Rhinos boss Rohan Smith as a key addition for 2024 and beyond. The towering front-row has a dozen Test caps to his name and also won the 2018 Challenge Cup with Catalans in only his sixth game for the club. With Sam Walters joining Wigan next term, Goudemand will bring size and physicality to Leeds' pack.
He is approaching 100 appearances for Catalans but will link up again with France team-mate Justin Sangare at Headingley as well as former colleague Richard Hunwicks, the Rhinos Performance Director, who worked with Catalans between 2017 and 2021.
Smith said: "Mickael is a very impressive individual. He is a physical, hard-working and experienced guy to complement our young forward pack. He has the best years of his career still ahead of him and speaks very good English. He will compliment our group, both on and off the field.
"Throughout his career, he has shown that he is an ambitious player who backs himself to perform at the highest level, as he has done with Catalans and France, and we look forward to having him at the Rhinos in 2024.”
With doubts over the future of Kiwi Test prop Zane Tetevano at Leeds, Goudemand will combine with the likes of - among others - England props Mikolaj Oledzki and Tom Holroyd plus Sangare for a spot.
