BRADFORD Bulls and Keighley Cougars could soon have another potential trip to France to add to their fixture calendars.

With Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique already playing in British rugby league’s top three tiers, they may be joined by a third French side in the next few years.

Carcassonne, based in the south of France like Toulouse and Perpignan outfit Catalans, have formally applied to join League 1 for 2026.

Speaking to Perpignan-based newspaper L'Independant, Carcassonne co-president Remy Bertrand said: “There is the infrastructure, with the stadium and its capacity (of around 10,000) at the forefront, the club’s means of communication, the sports workforce and the financial structuring.

“The IMG will rule on our application in 2025 and if we are accepted, we would join League 1 or the Championship at the start of the 2026 season."

Carcassonne, who play their home games at Stade Albert Domec, are two-time winners of France's Elite 1 competition and are currently top of the table after winning seven of their opening eight games.

They reached the Grand Final last season, losing 34-24 to Limoux Grizzlies in the showpiece.