Ian Henderson to leave Catalans


 
 

Catalans Dragons can confirm Ian Henderson will not be signing a new contract at the end of the season.

The Catalans hooker has announced his decision to return home to Australia, joining the Sydney Roosters in 2016.

Ian Henderson said: “I am sad to say that after 5 years here I will be heading home at the end of the season. It was definitely a tough decision to make and one that didn’t come easy. At the end of the day the timing is right for me and my family to return home and I look forward to the opportunity to play in NRL again.”

“I’d like to thank the club, the coaching staff, the players and everybody involved at Catalans during my time here. It is a fantastic club and they have really looked after me since I arrived. I am very appreciative and thankful for the opportunity to come and play at such a passionate and successful club and I hope I have done the club and supporters proud. I would also like to make special mention to the fans of Catalans, I have met many good friends here of which I will keep for life and they were very welcoming from day one inviting me into their homes, I am very thankful for that. Playing in front of them at Brutus is a very special thing and a memory I will always cherish.”

“Obviously I am and I have always been 100% committed to the Dragons and that will not change for the rest of the season. We have some big games coming up and I intend to do the job I am here for.”

Henderson, 32, has made 122 Super League appearances and scored 11 tries since joining the club in 2011.

Lauent Frayssinous commented: “Even if we respect his decision to return home, I am very disappointed to lose a such quality player. He always gave his best on the field and never let his team mates and the club down. History will remember that it is only the second foreign player to have made over 100 Super League appearances under the Catalans jersey, confirming his importance during the last five seasons. We wish the best for the future to Ian, his wife Jessica and his sons Harper and Billy."