Catalans Dragons are pleased to announce the signing of Josh Drinkwater with immediate effect.

The Australian scrum-half, 25, will join the club until the end of the season.

A former Manly Junior, Drinkwater made his NRL debut in 2013 and made four appearances for St George Illawarra Dragons before making the move to Super League side London Broncos, where he scored five tries and 136 points in 26 games.

The half-back then moved back to the NRL with the Tigers and came back in UK the year after joining Championship side Leigh in 2016 where he spent two seasons, scoring 12 tries and kicking 29 goals in 43 appearances.

In 2016, he signed a new three-year deal with the Centurions but, after their relegation last season, he moved back to Australia where he signed for the Western Suburbs Magpies.

He is one of the top form players of the competition since the season start, with 2 tries, 72 points and 11 try assists in 7 games, also named in the Team of the Week four times in a row.      

He will arrive in Perpignan tomorrow and will be given Squad Number 33.

Catalans Dragons headcoach Steve McNamara said: “Replacing Luke in our squad will be Josh Drinkwater who we are delighted to say has agreed to join us with immediate effect. Josh has had a brilliant start to the season in the NSW cup in Australia and having had previous experience in the Super League competition knows a lot about the game over here.”

Josh Drinkwater profile

Date of Birth : 15 June, 1992
Height : 178 cm
Weight : 89 kg
Position : Scrum-half
Debut : St-George Illawarra Dragons vs Newcastle Nkights, 7/04/2013
Previous Clubs : St George Illawarra Dragons, London Broncos, Wests Tigers, Leigh Centurions, Western Suburbs Magpies