Castleford captain Alex Mellor signs two-year Catalans deal from 2027

Castleford Tigers captain Alex Mellor is heading to France. The 31-year-old has agreed a two-year deal with Catalans Dragons from the 2027 season onwards, BBC Sport reported on 26 September 2026.

Mellor plays second-row forward. Think of the engine room on the edge of the pack. Second-rows tackle all evening, carry hard into contact and close gaps in defence. It is unglamorous work. Coaches love players who do it week after week.

That durability sums up his Castleford story. Mellor has spent the past four-and-a-half seasons with the Tigers. In that time he has made more than 100 Super League appearances for the club. Super League is the top tier of professional rugby league, played with 13 players on each side and built around constant tackling, quick play-the-balls and field position.

He earned trust along the way. Castleford named him club captain for the 2026 season. The armband in league means leading the team out, speaking to the referee and setting standards in training and on match day. It usually goes to someone the dressing room already follows.

Last season tested that leadership. Mellor played 23 times during a difficult campaign in which Castleford finished 13th. He kept turning up. He kept putting his body in. That counts for plenty in a struggling side, where energy can drop and heads can fall.

Change is already sweeping through Castleford. The Tigers are without a head coach after Ryan Carr departed last month. The squad will now also lose its on-field leader. A new coach will walk into a dressing room missing a familiar voice.

Catalans moved to confirm the signing on their official website, posting the announcement headlined "Les Dragons signent Alex Mellor" Catalans Dragons. The two-year length of the contract was also detailed in a report by Stephen Ibbetson for Total Rugby League.

For fans, this means experience walking out of one door and into another. Catalans gain a proven operator who knows the weekly grind of Super League and can help younger forwards find their feet. Castleford lose a regular starter and their captain at a moment when the club is searching for direction.

At 31, Mellor brings know-how rather than potential. He has seen winning runs and losing runs. He has played through fatigue, noise and pressure. That kind of calm is useful anywhere.

Mellor remains a Tiger for now. France comes next.