RUGBY LEAGUE NATION

 

 

Foundation Year - 2006

International Team - Spanish Rugby League

Top level domestic competition - N/A

History - Rugby league in Spain is played in the Catalan region and continues the trend of European nations taking up the sport. Catalonia is made up of 5 provinces; Lleida, Tarragona, Girona, Barcelona (Spain) and Catalunya Nord (France). Their is hope that the recent success of the Catalans Dragons in southern France will assist with the growth of the sport in the Catalan region in Spain.

On making the Challenge Cup Final in 2007 the Catalans Dragons received unprecedented media exposure in Spain due to their Catalonia connections. After losing the final the Dragons were invited to Spain's powerful Football Club FC Barcelona and received a huge applause from the pre game crowd.

In June 2009 the Catalans Dragons played the Warrington Wolves in Barcelona in front of over 18,000 fans. The game was hailed as a huge success with many of Barcelona locals taking part in the carnival atmosphere. As a warm up to the Super League game the local Catalan national side defeated the Czech Republic 52 - 10. This was another shot in the arm for rugby league as it continues to grow in Spain and the Catalonia region.

The recent success of the Rugby League World Cup will provide further funds to develop the sport throughout Europe. The Rugby League European Federation (RLEF) will now have more funds to invest in development officers and continue assisting rugby league's growth. With the right support many more nations including Catalonia could possibly be involved in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifiers.

For more information on rugby league in Catalonia please click here

Dear Readers, If you have first hand knowledge of the current Rugby League situation in Spain we would love to hear from you. Please email us at: webmaster@rugbyleagueplanet.com or join our international rugby league Forums at http://forums.rugbyleagueplanet.com and let us all know what's going on in your part of the world.