Wheelchair Challenge Cup: Seb Bechara's Catalans Dragons aim to upset holders Leeds Rhinos

Having won a World Cup in England's victory over France last autumn against most of his Catalans Dragons team-mates, Seb Bechara now wants to add a Challenge Cup to his roll of honours - this time by causing misery to his international colleagues.

Holders Leeds Rhinos are the opposition for Sunday's Wheelchair Challenge Cup in Sheffield, and Tom Halliwell, Nathan Collins and now retired head coach James Simpson will all be in Bechara's sights during the game.

"Tom Halliwell is a really close mate, but I know how to get into his head," Bechara told BBC Sport.

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"Last year I played against Leeds for Halifax in the Super League Grand Final. Halifax coach Wayne Boardman gave me the job to just stay on Tom.

"He's one of the biggest threats and I knew I could stop him. I just stayed on him and stayed on him and shut him down completely."

It was a performance which had a far wider impact, in particular later in the year when Halliwell and Bechara were on the same side.

Seb Bechara (right) celebrates with Nathan Collins and Tom Halliwell with England, but Sunday's meeting will be very different

Bechara talks of the mind-games he uses to get the upper hand on opponents like Nico Clausells, who was a huge part of him playing wheelchair rugby league in the first place.

"I was really proud of that moment, and I remember talking to England head coach Tom Coyd. He said what a good job I'd done, and it got him thinking about whether I could do the same thing with Nico [Catalans and France player].

"In a way it was a step towards learning how to beat the French. You go through experiences during your life and career and learn from them and that definitely helped.

"Tom has matured a lot and is much more experienced as a player so we'll see how the outcome of that battle comes out.

"Beforehand and at the end there is respect and there are plenty of hugs and kisses but during the game, it's on."

Bechara is also in the unique position of playing for Halifax in Super League as well as Catalans, who have won the French championship and cup double in 2023.

Musical distractions for Bechara

In addition to his talents on a rugby league pitch Bechara has also been focusing on his music, as a renowned trumpeter.

Having put so much into his push for World Cup glory in 2022, now the time is right to push other ambitions and boundaries.

"The music has gone absolutely wild this year," Bechara added.

"All the gigs, bigger concerts and festivals we've been doing, it's really hard sometimes to keep the balance between rugby league and music.

"It's always been terribly hard to do because it always happens simultaneously, over the last few years I'd been putting rugby first for the World Cup, but this year I've prioritised the music."

Bechara has left behind his jazz, classical and street music styles for a new, dancier, funkier style.

It has led him and his band to playing with renowned rapper and singer Sean Paul at festivals, and a busy winter recording their new album.

"It was more of a disco dance, funky electro vibe.

"We've been working hard on our own songs, so the winter we'll spend song-writing and putting music together, and the summer will be mad."