Step aside Madonna, the Catalans are here

The curious and famous of Barcelona have gathered to watch Catalans Dragons take on Warrington Wolves.
The influence of Barcelona, winners of football’s Champions League, is profound in a city steeped in the round-ball game and which will get only its second glimpse of rugby league at the Olympic Stadium, where the curious gathered to watch Warrington Wolves train yesterday.
Joan Laporta, the Barcelona president, is expected to join a crowd of up to 20,000 for the engage Super League fixture this evening between Catalans Dragons and Warrington, which is akin to a papal blessing in these parts.
Barcelona is not quite virgin territory for the pioneering code, Huddersfield (before their days as the Giants) having played a game there against XIII Catalan in 1993. It is only in the past two years, though, that the sport has started to put down roots in Spanish Catalonia — a direct consequence of the Dragons’ appearance in the 2007 Carnegie Challenge Cup final.
League has been part of French Catalonia fabric since the 1930s, but the Catalan spirit crossed national boundaries with the Dragons’ march on Wembley. The result was a nine-team competition based in and around Barcelona that has just completed a second short season, while a thriving league scene exists in six regional universities.
Small acorns, perhaps, but ones that should get a growth spurt with Catalans having moved the Warrington fixture from their Perpignan base to Barcelona — which is unlikely to be a one-off event — and the symbolic significance of a warm-up match between a Catalonia representative team and the Czech Republic.
The Dragons are taking 13,000 supporters with them on the two-hour trip across the border into Spain, whose “sang et or” (blood and gold) colours have drawn instant recognition in the Catalan capital. Less so the primrose and blue sported by 1,500 Warrington followers, who nevertheless are playing their own part in spreading league’s word.
Spanish television is broadcasting the match and considerable interest was generated when Catalans held an open training session at the stadium on Tuesday. “Rugby league is relatively new to Spanish Catalonia but the overall Catalan influence cannot be underestimated,” Christophe Levy, the Catalans general manager, said. “Whatever the sport, there is a passion there. When the Dragons team were presented to the crowd at the Nou Camp after Wembley two years ago, that was the point at which league in Spain began to take off.
“It is important we try and spread our influence. Perpignan has a population of around 100,000, but the Barcelona catchment area is three million and if this match is the success we hope, we’d like to think we’ll be back. It’s very much a rugby party that we see as Catalans’ version of the Super League Magic Weekend. We’ve sold over 1,000 tickets locally, but when the people see the league colours and the people, more will turn up, I think.”
Espanyol FC’s move away from the stadium overlooking the city has left its owners looking for different uses. The appearance by Warrington and Catalans has been shoehorned in between Madonna and AC/DC concerts, but the ground itself looked ill-prepared for a rugby match. The in-goal areas consist of half grass and matting, and groundstaff yesterday were replacing areas of turf — areas that will need addressing if Barcelona is going to be a regular staging post.
“All I know is that it’s a privilege to be here,” Tony Smith, the Warrington coach, said. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to spread the gospel to a new country and audience. The players are thoroughly enjoying a new environment and culture. We’re here to win, sure, but we’re also here to put on a spectacle.”
¤ Castleford Tigers gained revenge for their Carnegie Challenge Cup defeat by grinding out their first win away to Huddersfield for five years last night, beating the Giants 13-6. The Tigers produced a huge defensive effort after Kirk Dixon, the right wing, touched down on four minutes and they moved into a 12-0 half-time lead.
Hull earned their first home win in 16 weeks to end a recent run of poor form and nervously overcome Salford City Reds 14-12. Victory was built on first-half tries from Gareth Raynor and Motu Tony.
Source:The times