Catalans to switch Wigan clash to Nou Camp

Negotiations are at an advanced stage for the clash between Catalans Dragons and Wigan Warriors next year to be switched to Barcelona’s iconic Nou Camp stadium .

One of the World’s most famous sporting institutions have invited the Dragons to play a home fixture at the stadium in celebration of their Challenge Cup win last month .

Catalans paraded the Challenge Cup Trophy on the famous Barca pitch last Sunday and Club President Josep Maria Bartomeu contacted Dragons owner Bernard Guasch to make the offer ,which was too good to turn down .

Catalans have played a fixture in the City before  ,against Warrington in 2009 , but this is the 1st time the 100,000 seater Nou Camp will have hosted our great game .

Wigan have agreed to the fixture switch and it just needs ratification from the RFL , with a date in June said to be favoured by all parties . The game should open up a whole new market for Rugby League as they are keen to tap into the Catalans brand .

There is a strong Wigan presence in the South of France now and England star Sam Tomkins joins them at the end of this campaign . Hard to believe that 12 months ago the Dragons were 80 minutes away from dropping out of Super League , and are now set to play in one of the worlds most famous stadiums as Challenge Cup holders .