I do strongly suspect the Catalans game will be played in France or Barcelona. As pointed out, Catalans have been forced to travel to a local ground for their opponents in a CC semi before and although they won not many of their fans were able to enjoy it. This time it may be deemed their turn to get the local fixture, especially as they will be playing against a team with a decent travelling support whoever they get.

My ideal scenario is Wire V Catalans in either Leigh or Widnes but I'll fully admit that's for selfish reasons. IF the Catalans game is played outside the UK, meaning I won't go, I'd still prefer us to draw them as although I'd be gutted to miss a CC semi, our chances of a trip to Wembley would be significantly higher than it would be with any other draw so I could live with it.

The Stoop just seems completely pointless as although it's in between Catalans and their opponents making it the most authentically "neutral" venue, it would also guarantee NEITHER club taking a huge number of fans and a low attendance.

If we draw Saints I expect it to be at Widnes rather than Wigan - the RFL will want the guaranteed sell out which it would undoubtedly be and with the new football season starting a week or two after the semi I highly doubt Whelan will allow an extra RL game to be played there anyway. He'll want to use that free weekend to get the pitch up to scratch.

If it's Leeds then Huddersfield is the obvious choice and I don't think either set of fans would object to that. We'll both take thousands so that would be a mouth watering fixture.

so have it at paris, so get about 2000 cats fans there, maybe 1000 wire fans great.

or have it at widnes, leigh have 10,000 wire fans there and maybe 500 - 1000 cats fans there i think i can see which one looks better

The aim in Paris would be to catch a new audience. The RFL will have to decide the best financial outcome. Have it in England and get a crowd of 10-12K. Or have it in Paris and chance their arms at attracting the Rugby Union audience along with 2-4K Catalan fans. I remember Leeds playing South Sydney in America and the crowd was an amazing 12,000. Who would have thought that? It a gamble for the RFL and it only fair to Catalans that they have a semi final on there shores for once.

We can easily fly to Paris

Wasn't the France v England match played in Paris last year & the attendance was very poor.

Personally I think it would be a financial disaster to play it in Paris

You think wrong. The rumour goes that Paris as a city is willing to underwrite the fixture, and I suspect the RFL will only take the game there on that basis.

Were the RFL not desperate to keep Leeds and Wigan apart ?

rugby LEAGUE does not translate well in the UNION heartland of northern France. If they want a European game it would have to be played in the south.

I agreed WITF, we can easily fly to Paris BUT easy though it would be the crowds would be far smaller in Paris than if played in the UK. My point was that it would be just as easy for Cats to get to the UK as it is for them to travel north.

RFL needs to make a choice....... spread the game or have a sell-out.

Your knowledge of France leaves a little to be desired. No-one in northern France gives two hoots about rugby of either code, with the notable exception of Stade Francais who are the posh Parisien's alternative to the thugs of PSG. Northern France is all about football.

Not if that ash cloud as anything to do with it....

Seriously, if Wire and Catalans are paired together, it should be at Widnes or Barcelona......Taking it to London or Paris in front of a half empty stadium would just put another nail into the Challenge Cup coffin.

Wire V Catalan at Paris?

Wire fans can easily fly into Paris??

In today's league Express, Paris, Toulouse, Mille and Barcelona are all touted as possible venues.

Yep, unlike Yorkshire folk, on this side of the Pennines we're able to travel further than the next pit village, be it to watch a game or catch a flight.

OFFICIAL

DRAW FOR CC SEMI-FINAL

Saints v Wire @ JJB
Catalans v Leeds @ Paris

TO BE CONFIRMED BY RFL WEDNESDAY 1

Although i understand the sentiment in making it fair for catalans by having a semi final played in france i dont see what difference it would make to the team themselves. Either way they'll be flying over so i doubt an extra half hour or so on a plane will make a huge amount of difference. A semi over here would be a far beter money spinner for both clubs as the attendance will be much higher.

Admittedly it would be slighty better for the Catalans support but how much better really? A few quid difference flying on easyjet or something.
How would it look on the TV with only about 4k for a semi final? I reckon we'd take at most 2k over especially as, and i hate to say it but if we draw Catalans then there'll be quite a few people saving up for Wembley instead.