yes,seems strange to me they built a swimming pool at one end !!! mind you,it's facing due west so a real pain to be sat there in the hot months,in fact probably unbearable from mid-june to mid-september - maybe it was for that reason ?

I believe the Stade Toulousain is perfect for internationals as in the past with it's easy access etc

The swimming-pool was built in front of the stadium because the ex-mayor of Perpignan hates rugby league and the catalans dragons. He's a rugby union fan, particularly for the local club, USAP.

Although, this is official, the new mayor wants to build a new stadium of 25'000-30'000 seats at the periphery of Perpignan because USAP needs more money to survive in French Top 14. But the problem is financial, the city haven't got the money to built a new stadium.

thanks or the insight - the ex-mayor sounds a nasty piece of work !

I don't suppose Aimée Giral can be extended any more following the previous work over recent years ?

I think the debate about Dragons generally should bear in mind how tough Usap are having it this season.
Tenth in the league and until yesterday struggling in the Euro cup.
Lots of moaning on their forum and a coach and owner under pressure.
Will that put more pressure on the local administration to help them out?

what's the difference in USAP being 10th in a 17500 seater or 30000 seater stadium ? would they really be able to fill a 30000 seater ?

If the top14 is more widely known in France, it is important for Perpignan the town to have a strong team in that competition... I think.

For Dragons it could be an opportunity if they are struggling. Or the council or whomever might want to offer Dragons less support and USAP more.

USAP thinks they be able to fill a 30000 seater because for the play-off and grand final (2009 and 2010), they was about 40'000 catalans in Paris to support them. A major part of these group didn't live in Catalonia, but around Paris and Versailles for work.

They're just dreaming.
They are in a bad position this season -sportingly and financially- and who will help them? The town hall...

yes,the Grand Final night in 2009 was an unforgettable experience - we were at the Quins game (If I recall ?) which was switched to a afternoon kick-off and ate in town just opposite the Castillet during the showing of the game on the big screen - it was a great night - there must have been about 5000 people in the square (or am I exaggerating ?) - I enjoy both codes so it's sad to see any team in difficulty.
But it's tough times everywhere at the moment in sport but in life generally - I know,having just received notice of redundancy (licenciement économique) after 14 years - Merry Xmas ! ?

Dreaming? They're confident of getting at least 40,000 into the Camp Nou in April.

blimey,40000 would be a great turnout - is RU that popular on the spanish side ?

Fully professional league. National team games, weekly union programme and at least one live English Premiership game a every week on freeview. An attempt to run a Super 15 style competition failed badly but the game is going from strength to strength over here. The Catalan RL seem to have given up the ghost after only two years. The website hasn't been updated since July and I haven't had a reply from anyone at the CRL since June.

It's possible that's because the RLEF told the Catalans they wouldn't be recognising them as a national federation.

Kevin Rudd was interviewd over on the TRL forum and he said that they would not be recognising them. For a while it seemed like they would be, and the Catalans suggested it on thier website, but according to Rudd the EU informed the RLEF that it was no-go and the RLEF followed their advice. I think they were worried about ruining their chances of gaining funding from them in the future.

Quite correct Catalancs it seems to have totally fallen apart and USAP are steping into Barcelona something that they have wanted to do for years as i have stated on here before it saddens me to say it but i cannot see the Dragons going anywhere unless they get some serious investrment in the club and the investers from places like Barcelona Pujol and others will not get involved unless they have control which is something that BG and his friends will not give up again i am not knocking BG here his heart was in the right place and to take a village club to SL was fantastic however there has been a price and i get the feeling that there are also other reasons why the board do not want outsiders involved as well lets saythe lid would come off

Hopefully common sense will prevail however somehow i doubt it

USAP do have a head start in that rugby union is played in the rest of Catalonia whereas rugby league is only played in North Catalonia. Taking the Warrington game to Barcelona was a bold and innovative step, but just watch how USAP do it. Predicitons of at least 40,000 and closer ties to FC Barcelona.
If you're talking about the construction company Pujol then you'll have a long wait. They, like many constructors in Spain are in the brown stuff.

I doubt very much that that is the case. The Catalan rugby union have known for decafes that they'll never be able to play as a seperate enitity to Spain but continue to grow.
Haven't seen the Rudd interview but did get the copy of RL World where they interviewed Danny Kazandjian. Some good questions (including a couple from you) and interesting answers. I thought the answer regarding Catalonia was disappointing but sensible. The ramifications would be damaging to the sport and the last thing international rugby league needs is to get the backs up of numerous countries, not to mention the EU.

Danny Kazandjian! That was the interview, I must be getting old.

I think the CRL was different to CRU in that they were quite open in their desire to go it alone. That was how it looked from the outside anyway.

I agree with the decision to an extent, but I was still a little disappointed because I got the impression that things could have really kicked on quite rapidly if they'd been given the nod. I suppose the RLEF couldn't afford to get into protracted and difficult arguments with Spain and the EU. You only have to look at the double standards of FIFA over admitting Gibraltar because of Spanish pressure, despite less deserving 'nations' being allowed to take part in international soccer.

all interesting stuff and being totally ignorant of anything Spanish,could Barcelona or a regional team ,for example sustain a SL set-up ?

On the back of what? As it stands there is no rugby league in Catalonia.

No rugby league in Catalonia? Where is Perpignan?

when Warrington went to Barça in 2009 ,the game attracted 18150 people - where did these extra fans come from ? bearing in mind the average at the GB was about 8000ish in 2009.

Ther WAS rugby league in Catalonia at the time. I know for a fact that many rugby union players and followers went out of curiousity or ignorance with regard to there being two codes of rugby.

Hi guys, You can find some pictures about the new stand here : www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... 1698612445 Enjoy

Hi guys, You can find some pictures about the new stand here : www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... 1698612445 Enjoy

Quote ="Tom_13"Hi guys, You can find some pictures about the new stand here : www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... 1698612445 Enjoy '" brilliant,well done & thanks

Quote ="Tom_13"Hi guys, You can find some pictures about the new stand here : www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... 1698612445 Enjoy '" brilliant,well done & thanks

Looks very nice.

Some news photos available on www.facebook.com/DragonsCatalansOfficiel cheers

Some news photos available on www.facebook.com/DragonsCatalansOfficiel cheers