Given the canal bars closed on Sunday,fewer supporters staying in Perpignan,canalside very quiet. Town centre bars very quiet after the game. Hotel quality poor.

Is this fixture going to die death and therefore accelerate the demise of Catalans Dragons?

The canal bars probably shut every Sunday. The country is more strict on an religious day, like we used to be here. They were all shut last year over Easter as well. From where I was sat (on my a*se at home) it looked a huge Wigan following to me. Hardly "dying of death".

My first Catalans away trip this weekend, loved every minute but have to agree, Perpignan was not what I expected, very quiet, very expensive, and our hotel (Mercure centre) was not particularly good value for money.

I'd be happy to go back next year but I think I'd prefer to stay in Canet or maybe Lloret where there is more going on and just come in for the game, Perpignan is just too quiet really, and whilst the other venues are probably just as expensive I don't mind that if you are getting more for your money (more as in "fun"icon_wink.gif.

Atmosphere at the game was fantastic! - so no issues there

I had an absolutely outstanding time once again. Been there every time since they came into super league and this trip was probably up there as one of my favourites. Might be because we made more of a holiday of it this time round and stopped in Canet for three days. Personally I've had a non-stop laugh for 5 days. Suffering (still!) now though!

We had a change of scenery this year and stayed in Calella (Spain) and travelled down for the game on Sunday.
We had a superb time and will probably do the same again, depending on where the game is played.

Didnt go this year due to circumstances(i.e London the week before)

IIrc the bars did shut early on the sunday on previous visits,

Anyway it was muted before the season start that the Catalans wanted to play the Wigan game in Montpellier, would be defo up for that nexy year.
Bigger City more to do I suspect

Stayed in Calella a few years ago on my honeymoon, some excellent restaraunts there - hope you visited 'Don Corleone' near the square Brian, awesome food!

Enjoyed it massively, hotel was brand new with a fridge which helped on the Sunday when the bars where shut. I think next year we will stay in Canet like Woody did, or book a week in Lloret then stop in Perpignan for the night after the game. Met alot of awesome people too which always makes it worth the trip.

Never yet seen Wigan in France, due to us not playing during the school holidays (cannot justify 2 holidays abroad in one year, plus tied with the kids).

Please IL, if you have any influence on fixtures, Catalans away - last week in July 2011 please!! We have already decided we are doing the fortnight in France again next summer, car/tent/trailer/bikes...etc! Would love to get the Catalans game in that as well.....in fact I'd wager Wigan would bring a massive following if we had a 'Summer Holiday Fixture, as more families would come).

It makes sense!

Went the first two seasons Catalan joined SL and have therefore pretty much "done" Perpignan.

Waiting for the TGV line extension to Barcelona to be finished (if ever), before going back and will then base in Barce and come up for the game in about half an hour.

Don't think it's owt to do with France as a whole mate as we were in Toulouse over Easter this year and the pubs opened early on Good Friday and didn't shut all weekend!

don't worry, it's due to be finished in early 2007 so we'll be fine then



Crazy thing is that the line is all laid and has been for three years now, every time we drive up from Girona on the motorway we admire the nice new track rusting away in the sun

Wouldn't say that, if anything ppl are just splitting their time between canet, perpignan and other resorts.

The after match party was very busy. Free champagne and stuart fieldens lasagne was a bonus!

Category Z excuse considering we went there in August two years ago.



Yeah but a few Leythers wouldn't require the extra bar staff on premium rate wages that Wigan fans would.

We went out to Canet for lunch on the Sunday, everything was open there, beautiful place - ale was still dear though but better atmosphere than Perpignan. Definately one to consider for next year. Even my Mrs who doesn't like rugby is up for a return trip next year if it's a summer game.

Maybe Perpignan is a bit provincial/conservative - even the French weren't turning out on Sunday - corner bar near the ground was lively enough though, some nice French people even offered Hogan and Scotty a lift in their car

My first time going and I loved it, the Irish bar was brilliant and so was the saturday at the purple bar watching the leeds saints game, especially when the stripper showed up!

Canet is a bus ride away and is a quality place to stay! Shall be going next year!

Great trip, loved every minute!

Only negatives was the expensive beer but surely you expected this?

Been there, done that. Me, JTB and I think Hogan commandeered a lift off a random French bloke who had his old dad in the car (despite language barrier) in the pouring rain back in 2007. It was about 30 mins to kick off - we'd missed the buses boozing in town and couldn't find a taxi for love no money. I still to this day can't recall how we wangled a lift off the guy! Lucky we did, we'd have missed the game!

Awesome trip once again.

Roll on next year

........Thing is, the lift started at the corner bar right next to the ground, god knows where they ended up ?

This is a Hogan tradition. He got in a lift with some dodgy Moroccans one trip we had.

This was my fourth trip there and I had an awesome time. Its up there with the visit in the play-offs as my favourite. More people seem to be staying in the other resorts around the area but thats to be expected.

I only stayed 2 nights which is probably enough if your just staying in Perpignan. Stayed in a different hotel this year called the "Etap", its brand new, really cheap and i would reccommend it to anyone!

Got back yesterday after a fantastic long weekend. Me the missus and daighter stayed at a Eurocamp site (courtesy of a £60 Sun holiday) in Argeles Sur Mer a 15 mins train from Perpignan. Right on the beach with plenty to do, i would reccomend this to any family. A fantastic weekend was finished with a great game and atmosphere, we couldnt believe how good the French crowd was, and i love the way they cheer any sort of flowing rugby as much as a try.

Definately an annual event from now on.

we stopped in the suite hotel next door, was ace, had to laugh at the view though.

Aye! Nice building site that was! We went into that hotel first thinking it was where we were staying, the woman went to us "no, your next door." So we went round the corner and walked into The Etap. As we walked up to the check-in desk, the same woman who had just spoke to us came out to check us in. Only in France! haha!

had an absolute scream this year - will defo stay in canet again.

Although the male pole dancers in the purple bar will give me nightmares for the rest of my life!!! Then again it got worse when they then stripped naked on the centre circle at the ground