Dragons open Bird talks

Dragons want captain to stay on

Last updated: 6th May 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Dragons open Bird talks

Bird: Could stay with Dragons

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Greg Bird's stay with the Catalans Dragons could be extended as the French side have opened talks to keep the controversial Australian beyond the current season.

The talks come just a week after the 25-year-old former Canberra stand-off was convicted of assaulting his girlfriend by a court in Sydney .

The Australia Test player then flew back to play for the Dragons against Leeds in Edinburgh last Sunday but is due to return to Sydney for sentencing on June 22 - although he is planning to appeal against his conviction.

Catalans general manager Christophe Levy confirmed: "We are talking to his agent.

World-class

"We are still waiting for the full decision of the court but we would like to keep him. He is our captain and a world-class player."

Bird was released by his Australian club earlier this year following his arrest and Bradford then won the race for his signature.

But the Catalans stepped in when the British High Commission rejected the player's visa application, with Bird signing a contract with the Dragons to the end of the season.

He was appointed captain after just two substitute appearances and has missed only one of the Dragons' last 10 matches - despite making two trips to Australia for court appearances, as well as defying an abductor injury to lead his side against Leeds at Murrayfield.

Hamstring injury

The player is now fighting to overcome a hamstring injury in time to play against holders St Helens in Sunday's Carnegie Challenge Cup fifth-round tie, with Catalans coach Kevin Walters once again leaving a decision to the last minute.

The Dragons won three Super League matches in a row with Bird and Thomas Bosc paired at half-back and they are hoping to have Bosc back from a shoulder injury for the visit to Saints.

The Perpignan club are also hopeful that Australian Test prop Jason Ryles will recover in time from a quad injury that forced him to miss the last two matches.