Ugo Perez and Thibaut Margalet sign Catalans Dragons deals

Catalans Dragons have signed back rower Ugo Perez and loose forward Thibaut Margalet on full-time contracts.

Perez, 20, was rewarded for his great season in the French Championship by being named in the France ’A’ squad last month and has signed a three-year contract.

Margalet, 22, like Perez a product of the club's reserve team Saint-Esteve XIII Catalan, has made two Super League appearances for the Dragons since his debut in 2013 and has agreed a one-and-a-half-year deal.

Perez said: “It’s an honour to sign this contract. It’s a dream come true and it’s above all the reward for all the efforts done. It’s my hometown club and I’m really proud to commit with the Dragons.”

Margalet said: “I’m really happy to sign this contact. I have worked really hard to bounce back after several injuries over the last two years. It’s a great reward for me.”

Dragons chief executive Christophe Jouffret said: “We are delighted that Ugo and Thibaut have signed their first professional contract.

“It’s important for us as a club to produce homegrown players and we are proud to keep them at the Dragons. Both have a bright future ahead of them and I look forward to seeing them continue to develop.

“It’s a great achievement for all the people involved in our youth development system. They are doing a great job and Ugo and Thibaut are the result of the hard work done from the early stages to the Dragons.”