just seen on sky text they are expecting 20,000 to attend

over 12,000 tickets sold locally in perpignan 1,000 sold in Barca and 1500 wire fans
puts millenium magic in the shade a bit doesnt it...........

and to think some of the big clubs in the national leagues think its a waste of time this expansion lark......

rlhttp://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME

thanks for the info.

Just to let you guys know that the Catalans fans are planning to parade en masse all the way from ramblers to the ground. A huge crowd is expected to gather at about 1pm although details are sketchy as to precisely where. My friend from Cavanac is meeting all his coach loads from the town at 1 in christopher columbus suqare where we are joining them. Other catalans fans have said the meet is further up the rambles. Whatever the case, they should be easy to spot. Hopefully there will be plenty of wire fans who want to join them on the way to the ground. I've a feeling this is going to be a great carnaval atmosphere for the game, one which may easily surpass the sort of atmosphere we got around the magic venues with everyone together as common fans of the game.

Catalans fans (even the old looney guy with the grey beard and the tight shorts who parades around the ground) are almost without exception a great bunch. I met serge and his family on my first visit over there in a bar, and then sat with them in the ground. Subsequently have been on many visits staying with them and shown round all the local RL grounds and all the local vineyards as well as being showered with gifts to the point of embarrassment. Hopefully you'll all make a few new acquaintances too.

Make sure you take your suncream guys........it feckin hot out there.

Whilst I am planning on seeing some of the sights, it is up to individuals what they want to do. There will be plenty of people who will be going for a pure Rugby tour, and would have gone whichever foriegn city this was in.

I went to Edinburgh and didn't do much sight-seeing as it was a Rugby weekend.

I would like to take time out and go to lots of the little spanish bars and restaurants, but the reality is that we will probably get caught up in the whole Rugby atmosphere, and being 'on tour' with thousands of other RL fans is a fantastic experience in itself.

Just because people don't go and see the architecture doesn't mean they will miss out. Ultimately, for most people this is a RL weekend.

I believe (from another forum) that the meeting place at 1pm is the Font de Canaletes, which is located at Place de Catalunya, which is the North end of the Ramblas. I'll be heading up there around that time.

Even when they have only brought a couple of hundred to Edinburgh and Cardiff, they have alwyas been very colourful and seem to enjoy themselves. Similarly in Oz for the WC you always saw them around.

Looking forward to the Red and Gold and Primrose and Blue taking over the city...

a lot of us are meetin in flahertys irish bar friday mate if fancy joinin us lwf orford paul amongest others

It's extremely likely we will be in there mate, we've already sorted out directions so will make sure we have a few in there and meet a few of the Wire fans (although we are geting to the airport at 5.30am on Friday, so we could be a mess by the time we get there!)...

Sounds great fun - the Catalan fans have always gone out of their way to welcome us on the occasions I`ve visited Perpignan - a credit to their club and the sport of Rugby League ...

getting giddy now, come on the wire!

11.50 Lpool flight for me, meeting in the borough arms for breakfast and a few beers at 7.30.

I'm actually quite excited about this now. The whole day on Saturday looks brilliant. Especially if they have the BBQ, Paella, Tapas and a bar on til midnight around the ground.

The Rambles or Las Ramblas is brill. Normally lots going on and great to sit and watch the world go by............however the cafe bars and hotel bars are a rip off. Good tip is to go in McDonalds.............they serve draft beer!! Its reasonable and then you can sit on their benches and soak up the atmosphere!!

That sounds a winner indeed, hmmmm tapas. Save us some squid la.