Cheers folks.
We stayed in Carcassone for the first Catalan/Trin game and it was excellent and Montpelier is a smart City.
I was hoping to get a direct flight to Perpignan, straight in,watch the game and back the following day ?
This may not be possible but, if anyone can help, it would be appreciated.

As FT says Girona is a good bet.
Me and a mate did it a couple of years ago, Dave Foti picked us up at the airport (Friday late afternoon) and took us to Canet (about an hour) and picked us up early on the sunday morning for our return flight.

Don't think there are any flights into Perpignan this early in the season then the flight is from Stanstead. The Carcasonne flight also has not started in March.

Your best bet if you wish to fly in Saturday and back Sunday is Ryanair Manchester to Girona currently looking at £132. Foti should pick you up and there should be a few of us going back on the Sunday with CST.

I would not stay too long in Perpignan in March. We went to the game at Easter once and alot of the restaurants & shops were shut. Its also not that warm so not the time of year to sit outside the bars etc ( those that are open !)

Thanks Feline you have made my mind up keep the dosh in the bank and use it for the season after nexts season ticket

Completely agree with Feline ... looking for a flight (or even combination of flights/trains) out Friday and back Sunday
but not really having any joy

If anybody finds something suitable please share it with us all !!!

Yes we went to the Easter game and it was cold.We ended up watching Pia with Maxime G. There were some bars and restaurants open but as you say because of Easter the shops were closed. It's certainly a different experience when the weather is cold but as long as you are prepared-no problem. I am finding it difficult to get flights too because of the time of year!

With the lack of flights to Perpignan, it looks like Barcelona + Car hire is the most likely option ?

Girona is a better bet than barcelona, or even Montpellier, far easier to get away from the Airport than Barcelona.
BTW the motorway is a Toll road but it's way way quicket
r than using the non tolls, and last time I went from Barca (2010) the tolls cost just over 14 euro and last year when I went from montpellier tolls were 11 euro that's an eachway price
and don't speed on the toll roads there are loads of cameras/patrols also they work out your average speed between the toll booths

Jet two and ryan air fom Leeds, it's about an hours drive.

Girona airport is 65 miles from perpignan all motorway takes about an hour
Barcelona airport is 125 miles from perpignan and takes around 2 1/2 hours
Montpellier is 95 miles from perpignan and takes about 1 1/2 hours
Carcassonne is 75 miles from perpignan and takes about 1 1/4 hours

I have made all those drives more than once, have also driven all the way down from the UK and back. IMO Montpellier is the easiest option although the airport is cack
Car hire is cheapish and fuel is cheap, I would defo be going if it would have been later say after 1st of May. you can get some pretty crappy weather down there early in the year

I went to last years game via montpellier and although the airport is cack, the car hire from the airport was simple and quick and the drive to canet was about an hour and very easy, only about 2 miles on A roads all the rest motorway/dual carriageway.
Car hire last year cost me 75euro for friday to monday with a brand new (done 200km) Megane, paid a 200euro refundable deposit to cover excess and 20 euro for full insurance with europcar which is the first hire car office as you come out of the terminal and closest to the exit.
The organised tours are great for people who aren't seasoned travellers but the cost is a bit steep, we went last year at a cost of £150 each for flight car hire and digs (for 3 nights) so just food and drink on top, so around half the price of the organised tour
Public transport down there is far superior to the UK so don't be scared to use it, not expensive and very reliable timetables on newish buses/trains, can't see why it's so poor in comparison in the UK