A rugby player from Catalans Dragons or St Helens wearing a scrum cap and holding the ball while running on the field.Credit: SWPIX.COM

HARVEY Wilson hopes not being part of a ‘normal’ Magic Weekend could actually be a good thing.

For it could be the start of something that could see the event move to France.

A rugby player in a red jersey runs with the ball while another player in a black and white jersey attempts to tackle him.Harvey Wilson sees no reason why standalone French Magic Weekend fixture cannot be the start of something bigger. Credit: SWPIX.COM

All 12 English Super League sides battle it out on Saturday and Sunday at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Meanwhile, Catalans take on Toulouse in rugby union stronghold Castres, more than 100 miles from the Dragons’ Perpignan base.

And Wilson believes Saturday night’s showpiece could pave the way for the whole thing shifting across the Channel.

He said: “There is a little bit of envy that we’re not with everyone else, but at the same time, there’s no better place for it than France.

“It’s two French teams and you’ll get a lot more French supporters there. If it’s at Magic Weekend, it can be a bit of a struggle.

“So this is a pretty good idea. Obviously, it would be good to have other teams there and maybe there can be a full Magic Weekend in France one day.

“This is massive for French rugby league. We want to be the best French team there is. So we’ll go into it with a massive goal.”

Last year, Wilson found himself in the mess at Salford as they eventually went under. Now the Oldham lad is in the south of France.

And now he is there, things are much bigger than they seemed as they start to come good under John Cartwright.

The 22-year-old added: “It’s massive in the city. The fans love it.

Three smiling rugby players from Catalans Dragons in white, red, and yellow uniforms, two with their arms around the third who is holding a rugby ball.Wilson (right) and the Dragons face Toulouse in Castres, Credit: SWPIX,COM

“When I’ve been before and played there, the atmosphere is massive. At games, you can get a sense of it.

“But being there all the time, even in the city, there are flags everywhere, there are badges everywhere.

“And the last couple of weeks have been a very big turning point for us. I think it’s starting to come together a little bit now. “

Eze Chidiebere Paul

Eze Chidiebere Paul

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