"I'm probably the most unemotional bloke ever and then I saw my mum and I couldn't really cuddle her because I was about to well up in tears," Ryles said. "She's going to think I brushed her because I gave her a half cuddle and then kept walking but I didn't want to cry - I never cry."

While he had been sorting out a working visa for France, disposing of items he can't take with him and arranging where he's going to live when he arrives in Perpignan to play for Les Catalans, Ryles had been too busy to focus on just what his departure meant.

It's a similar situation for Dragons teammate Mark Gasnier, who is also heading to France to play rugby union for Stade Francais. The Dragons skipper said the effort of organising the move may have affected his form until the past two weeks, when he has returned to his best in wins over the Broncos and Warriors.

"You've got to sort out a fair bit of stuff and things are slowly getting sorted out now, so all my attention and focus is to the Dragons now," Gasnier said.

Ryles, who is among seven players and three members of the coaching staff - headed by Nathan Brown - departing at the end of the season, added: "It's not like moving house, it's moving your whole life, so there's a fair bit of planning involved."

Ryles will have plenty of friends at Catalans with former Dragons players Clint Greenshields and Aaron Gorrell on the playing roster.

While Ryles' loss will be keenly felt, Brown said Gasnier's decision to play rugby was "sad" for the game. "I'm a league person, so you'd like to see them playing in the NRL," he said.

Brad Walter