It's not that there is a refusal to build a Spanish team, there IS no rugby league in Spain.
In other sports like water polo and roller hockey the vast majority of the Spanish national team is made up of Catalans and despite political efforts the governing bodies refuse to accept a Catalonia team.
I've lived in Spain and Catalonia and to me personally they feel like two different places. I know, work and live with Catalans and most of them don't consider themselves to be Spanish.
At the end of the day you had two teams from different countries and in my opinion that qualifies as international.

Here's your rlmatch reportrl

I can't believe you nominated Elima as your man of the match after a shocking attack on Monaghan's head.

Anyway, moving on... the Catalans fans were a pleasure to be around all weekend and helped make it an unforgettable trip. Thanks folks.

rlMorerl

[sizeWe WON!!!![/size

Elima has been "cautioned" by the RFL for the assault, so I should take back what I wrote.

Fakir however is up before the disciplinary for the high tackle on King.

Nowhere near his head.


Well, quite near, but completely legit so far as I saw it at the time and on all subsequent replays.

Fair do's John. I have retracted what I said (albeit slightly mischievously) but it was right in front of us and it looked bad. Monaghan was clearly targeted all through the game and some of the shots were borderline violence.

Happy to hold my hands up though and admit I possibly got that one wrong - however why the caution from the RFL?

Sorry to go on a bit but its a genuine question...

I see. I think it'd be great at some point to have a Spanish team (if the RL game spread to the whole country). Anyway, congrats for this first victory.

French fans have started talking about having a Barcelona team in LER, perhaps as a stepping stone for CC. I think it's a great idea, but I am not sure if people in Barcelona would be interested. Any idea?

May look legit on video, but Elima clearly targeted Monhagan. The fact to come back a second time is more than borderline. Some think that he wanted to avenge Baile who got a punch from Monhagan. In any case I found his behaviour inappropriate. This adds to a long list of penalties... Elima is I think the most penalised players of the Dragons with 19 penalties!

As ever Barcelona proved to be a wonderful city for a long weekend. Throw in some footy as well and it just made it even better. Unfortunately I missed the Catalonia game, which I had been looking froward to, but the main event was a decent game, and the RL virgins I took along enjoyed themselves. A couple of union fans were surprised by the mobility and skill levels of the forwards, and everyone enjoyed the tackling.

Excellent event, and a fab weekend. Can't wait for next year!

Not everyone...

I know there not in Barcelona, but they are in Catalonia? It was just examples that there are other options other places to take the Dragons, I dont know the full ins and outs of the politics, you probably know more, but IMO it would be nice to be in a position to take an odd game wherever there is a demand in Catalonia.

As for Attendances, yes I take the point those grounds are smaller than the olympic ground, but again if the games were taken around the area it would give more people the chance to see games (see potential new fans). Also all of those grounds I mentioned are bigger than gilbert brutus, Im sure there are another 5-10 grounds of similar sizes.



It was kinda hard not to notice the empty spaces on TV
Not all of us were lucky enough to be there in person

Barca might not gain much from being in the LER but would probably gain more from the Championship in terms of the level of Rugby.

I dont know how many people in Barcelona would be willing to watch Barca V Batley though