Dimitri Pelo
Encyclopedia
Dimitri Pelo is a French professional rugby union
player for Montpellier Herault RC
after switching codes in 2010. He was a former rugby league
footballer for the Catalans Dragons
club of Europe's Super League
competition. His usual position is wing.
with his parents while still in his adolescence, originally settling in the north-eastern state of Queensland
. While living here Pelo began playing junior rugby league catching the eye of Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks scouts whom signed him to the Sydney club for several years.
While at the Sharks Pelo went on to represent the Australian Schoolboys team but he could not make his way into the Sharks first grade side; instead being relegated to the reserves
and lower competitions.
During the 2005 season Pelo was called up by French national team
along with fellow clubman Daniel Dumas
; during this time his contract with the Cronulla club expired and he left the club. Pelo then moved back to Queensland originally signing a short term deal with the Burleigh Bears
club in the Queensland Cup in the hope of securing a longer term deal with the Gold Coast Titans
in the NRL
.
During the end of the 2006 season the Gold Coast club displayed interest in Pelo selecting him in several early trial matches and a sevens competition but ultimately he was unsuccessful in securing any deal with the club so began to look abroad.
For the beginning of the 2007 season Pelo signed a deal with the French club Catalans Dragons
.
He has been named in the France training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
.
He has been named in the France squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
.
He switched codes for the 2010/11 season and is currently playing for Montpellier Hérault RC
.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player for Montpellier Herault RC
Montpellier Hérault RC
Montpellier Hérault Rugby Club is a professional French rugby union, based in Montpellier the capital of Languedoc-Roussillon. The club competes in the top level of the French league system, in the Top 14. They originally played at Stade Sabathé but moved to the Stade Yves-du-Manoir in 2007...
after switching codes in 2010. He was a former rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer for the Catalans Dragons
Catalans Dragons
The Catalans Dragons are a French professional rugby league club based in Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales. They currently play in the Super League, and are the only team in the competition from outside of the United Kingdom...
club of Europe's Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
competition. His usual position is wing.
Career
Pelo, born in New Caledonia (the overseas territory of France) emigrated to AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
with his parents while still in his adolescence, originally settling in the north-eastern state of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. While living here Pelo began playing junior rugby league catching the eye of Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks scouts whom signed him to the Sydney club for several years.
While at the Sharks Pelo went on to represent the Australian Schoolboys team but he could not make his way into the Sharks first grade side; instead being relegated to the reserves
NSWRL Jim Beam Cup
The Bundaberg Red Cup is a semi-professional development level rugby league competition in New South Wales , Australia, run jointly by the New South Wales Rugby League and the Country Rugby League of New South Wales . The competition is run concurrently with the National Rugby League...
and lower competitions.
During the 2005 season Pelo was called up by French national team
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
along with fellow clubman Daniel Dumas
Daniel Dumas
Daniel Dumas is a professional rugby league player for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League competition who also represents France...
; during this time his contract with the Cronulla club expired and he left the club. Pelo then moved back to Queensland originally signing a short term deal with the Burleigh Bears
Burleigh Bears
The Burleigh Heads Rugby League Football Club are one of the oldest rugby league football clubs on the Gold Coast, Australia. Originally formed in 1934 playing out of Rudd Park, the club relocated to Pizzey Park in 1971, their current home ground....
club in the Queensland Cup in the hope of securing a longer term deal with the Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
in the NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
.
During the end of the 2006 season the Gold Coast club displayed interest in Pelo selecting him in several early trial matches and a sevens competition but ultimately he was unsuccessful in securing any deal with the club so began to look abroad.
For the beginning of the 2007 season Pelo signed a deal with the French club Catalans Dragons
Catalans Dragons
The Catalans Dragons are a French professional rugby league club based in Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales. They currently play in the Super League, and are the only team in the competition from outside of the United Kingdom...
.
He has been named in the France training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
.
He has been named in the France squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
.
He switched codes for the 2010/11 season and is currently playing for Montpellier Hérault RC
Montpellier Hérault RC
Montpellier Hérault Rugby Club is a professional French rugby union, based in Montpellier the capital of Languedoc-Roussillon. The club competes in the top level of the French league system, in the Top 14. They originally played at Stade Sabathé but moved to the Stade Yves-du-Manoir in 2007...
.
Point scoring summary
| Games | Tries | Goals | F/G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
Matches played
| Team | Matches | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Catalans Dragons | 3 | 2007 |