'Anything is possible': Arthur Mourgue's rise from Avignon to Super League glory

The ball lands in their hands and they never want to put it down.

For Arthur Mourgue, that journey began far from the sport's traditional heartlands.

The Frenchman was born in Saint-Étienne, almost 300 miles from the nation's biggest club Catalans Dragons, and spent his childhood in Avignon.

It was there that Mourgue discovered his love for rugby league with the help of Louis Jouffret, a name well known to fans of Batley Bulldogs, Featherstone Rovers and Halifax Panthers.

"Growing up, my cousin played rugby league and he was like my big brother," said Mourgue.

"I wanted to try it and be like him. I started when I was four years old and never stopped.

"His father played rugby league first, got Louis into it and brought me as well. That's why I never left."

Starting out in Avignon brought its own challenges. Rugby league has a presence there but opportunities to progress to Super League are limited compared with Perpignan, let alone towns and cities either side of the Pennines in northern England.

Young players with professional ambitions often have to leave home at an early age to chase their dreams.

Mourgue made the brave call at 14, bidding farewell to Avignon to study sport before eventually joining the Dragons academy – and he has never looked back.

"Rugby league is quite popular in Avignon but it's not like Perpignan, where it is huge in comparison," said the 26-year-old.

"Tony Gigot, Fouad Yaha, Ben Garcia and Mickael Goudemand all started there. If you're a French player and want to play in Super League, you need to go to Perpignan.

"I played for the French team at under-16 and under-19 levels so knew I had the talent and potential. You never know if you're going to turn pro but thankfully I'm here now."

The old saying goes that you get out what you put in. As we chat in a quiet corner of Craven Park, a long way from home, Mourgue sits there as a treble winner, even if he was denied the chance to play in the Challenge Cup.

It was only last March that he made the big leap from Catalans to Hull KR, another bold decision that opened his eyes to new possibilities.

"Firstly for me, it was to see something different," he said.

"I ended up at a good club with good people who compete really hard and care for each other.

"Those were the main things for me. The treble was the cherry on the cake. I always came here to win trophies but to win three last year was mad.

"When you make a decision like this, you don't know what's coming so everything is new and challenging. It takes you out of your comfort zone and that's when you really improve.

"I'm really happy I made this decision. I think it's one of the best decisions I've made."

Mourgue had to watch KR's run to Challenge Cup glory from the sidelines after playing for Catalans earlier in the competition, when he came up against his cousin and mentor at Halifax.

But every step along his journey had prepared him to contribute when it really mattered. That experience paid off with double success in Super League, capped by an unforgettable Grand Final win over Wigan Warriors.

"I've been on my own, even though you make new friends, since I was young so it wasn't a new thing for me," added Mourgue.

"It was different because it's a different country with a different language. That's the biggest step.

"I'm really grateful for everything I've experienced here so far. It feels like a reward for all the work I've done and the sacrifices I've made.

"I still want to play in this amazing stadium at Wembley but it was a dream come true to win at Old Trafford. I'd been there twice before and lost both times so it was nice to make it third time lucky.

"All the effort has paid off. It was a good moment to share with the team, the coach and my family as well. Memories are better than dreams."

While he may have borrowed that legendary line from Rovers great Phil Lowe, Mourgue is well on his way to carving out his own legacy.

The full-back joined an exclusive club in October when he got his hands on the Super League trophy at Old Trafford, taking his place alongside Theo Fages, Romain Navarrete and Morgan Escare as the only Frenchmen to win a Grand Final.

Beyond personal ambition, there is a broader mission driving Mourgue along a rugby league journey that has taken him from Saint-Étienne to east Hull via Avignon and Perpignan.

"It's always in my head to put French rugby league on the map," he said.

"We all know rugby union is the biggest sport but we've got some good players coming through.

"If they work hard and never quit, you never know. Anything is possible.

"Here at Hull KR, we'll try to do last year again."